different between covetous vs penurious

English

Etymology

From Middle English coveitous, from Anglo-Norman *cuveitus, from Medieval Latin as if *cupiditosus, from Latin cupiditas (“desire”); see covet.

Pronunciation

• enPR: k?v'?t-?s, IPA^(key): /?k?v?t?s/

Adjective

covetous (comparative more covetous, superlative most covetous)

1. Extremely keen or desirous, especially to obtain and possess something belonging to someone else; avaricious.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:greedy

Derived terms

• covetousness
• covetously

Related terms

• covet

Translations

Further reading

• covetous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• covetous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin p?n?ri?sus. See penury from Latin penuria (“want”), related to paene (“scarcely”), c. 1400. Compare French pénurie.

Adjective

penurious (comparative more penurious, superlative most penurious)

1. Miserly; excessively cheap.

   The old man died a penurious wretch; eighty-thousand dollars in the mattress and as many holes in the roof.

2. Not bountiful; thin; scant.

   The penurious stew would have been more accurately labelled broth.

3. Impoverished; wanting for money.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:stingy
• See also Thesaurus:impoverished
• See also Thesaurus:pauper

Antonyms

• See also Thesaurus:spendthrift

Related terms

• penury

Translations