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   pov·er·ty

   /ˈpävərdē/

   noun

   • 1. the state of being extremely poor: "thousands of families are living in abject poverty" Similar penurydestitutionindigencepennilessnessprivationdeprivationimpoverishmentneedinessneedwanthardshipimpecuniousnessimpecuniosityhand-to-mouth existencebeggarypauperismstraitened circumstancesbankruptcyinsolvencyprimary povertyrare:pauperdomOpposite wealth
   • ▪ the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount: "the poverty of her imagination" Similar scarcitydeficiencydearthshortagepaucityinsufficiencyinadequacyabsencelackwantdeficitmeagernesslimitednessrestrictednesssparsenesssparsityrare:exiguityinferioritymediocritypoornessbarrennessariditysterilityOpposite abundance
   • ▪ the renunciation of the right to individual ownership of property as part of a religious vow.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French poverte, from Latin paupertas, from pauper ‘poor’.

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • T

     1

   • Y

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