impecunious

First attested in 1596. From im- +‎ pecunious, from Latin pecūniōsus, from pecūnia (“money”) + -ōsus (“full of”).

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˌɪm.pəˈkjuː.ni.əs/, /ˌɪm.pɪˈkjuː.ni.əs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːniəs

impecunious (not comparable)

1. lacking money
   • 1875 March 25, William S. Gilbert, Trial by Jury:

     When I, good friends, was called to the bar,

     I'd an appetite fresh and hearty,

     But I was, as many young barristers are,

     An impecunious party.

   • February 1896, Ground-swells, by Jeannette H. Walworth, published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine; page 183:

     "Then what became of her?"

     "Her? Which 'her'? The park is full of 'hers.'"

     "The lady with the green feathers in her hat. A big Gainsborough hat. I am quite sure it was Miss Hartuff."

     "Not improbably. I presume she does sometimes take the air. And possibly she may be the happy owner of a Gainsborough hat with green feathers."

     "Don't be frivolous, please. She was in that victoria."

     "Then perhaps she was too impecunious to drive both ways."

   • 1919, P. G. Wodehouse, "Leave it to Jeeves" in My Man Jeeves:

     [I]t would be a simple matter, sir, to find some impecunious author who would be glad to do the actual composition of the volume for a small fee.

• (lacking money): poor, penniless
• See also Thesaurus:impoverished