Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PE-NU'RI-OUS, a. [It. penurioso, from L. penuria, scarcity, want; Gr. πενης, poor, σπανος, rare.]

1. Excessively saving or sparing in the use of money; parsimonious to a fault; sordid; as, a penurious man. It expresses somewhat less than niggardly.
2. Scanty; affording little; as, a penurious spring. – Addison.