How Do You Spell PENNILESS?

Pronunciation: [pˈɛnɪləs] (IPA)

The word "penniless" is spelled with the letters P-E-N-N-I-L-E-S-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /ˈpɛnɪləs/, with the stress on the second syllable. The word means lacking money or resources, and is often used to describe someone who is in extreme poverty. The root word "penny" refers to a small amount of money, and the suffix "-less" denotes the absence of something. So, "penniless" literally means without any pennies or money.

PENNILESS Meaning and Definition

1. The term "penniless" refers to a state of extreme financial deprivation or poverty, where an individual possesses no money or resources. It can be used to describe someone who has no funds or possessions whatsoever, and is unable to meet their basic needs or finance essential expenses. The word "penniless" is derived from the combination of the noun "penny," which is a unit of currency commonly associated with small denominations, and the suffix "-less," denoting the absence or lack of something.

   When someone is penniless, it implies that they lack not only monetary resources but also any valuable assets or means of acquiring income. This condition may arise due to various circumstances, such as job loss, economic downturn, personal setbacks, or mismanagement of finances. Being penniless often results in significant financial hardships, leading to difficulties in obtaining necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare.

   Furthermore, the term "penniless" can also be used metaphorically to describe individuals or entities lacking in other non-monetary resources. For example, one can be penniless in terms of knowledge, emotional support, or opportunities. In such contexts, "penniless" conveys a sense of total deprivation or helplessness rather than solely referring to a lack of financial means.

   Overall, "penniless" encapsulates the idea of complete destitution and serves as a potent descriptor of extreme poverty in both literal and metaphorical senses.

2. • See penny.

   • Destitute of money; poor.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PENNILESS *

• pennieless 27.2727272%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PENNILESS

• pennises
• periless
• penniles
• penciles
• peniless
• penniies
• pensiles
• pennines
• pennilesss
• Bonniless
• panneless
• Pengless
• Banniless
• Penncles
• Pennilusm
• Peciless
• Sentiless
• dennisses
• Dennless
• penniliss

Etymology of PENNILESS

The word "penniless" has a relatively straightforward etymology. It is derived from the combination of two words: "penny" and "less".

The term "penny" stems from the Old English word "penning" or "penig", which referred to a small monetary unit. Early English pennies were made of silver and were often used as a form of currency. Over time, the word "penny" evolved to become the basic unit of currency in several countries, including Britain.

The suffix "-less" is added to convey the absence or lack of something. In the case of "penniless", the "-less" suffix is used to indicate the absence or lack of pennies or money in general.

So, when combined, "penniless" literally means having no pennies or lacking any money.

Similar spelling words for PENNILESS

• penalised,
• penologist,
• penalize,
• penalise.