penury

n. [ L. penuria; cf. Gr. &unr_; hunger, &unr_; poverty, need, &unr_; one who works for his daily bread, a poor man, &unr_; to work for one's daily bread, to be poor: cf. F. pénurie. ] 1. Absence of resources; want; privation; indigence; extreme poverty; destitution. “A penury of military forces.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were exposed to hardship and penury. Sprat. [ 1913 Webster ]

It arises in neither from penury of thought. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Penuriousness; miserliness. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]