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halfpennyworth
/ ˈ³ó±ğɪ±èəθ /
noun
- an amount that may be bought for a halfpenny
- a trifling or very small amount
Example Sentences
A single candle, a small loaf, half an ounce of tea, a halfpennyworth of cheese, a pennyworth of butter, or sugar, or snuff, or tobacco, could here be obtained.
A halfpennyworth of fact---- "Is worth a pound of theory!" the man of the brigands--he was a grocer, I believe--cried eagerly; and he brought his fist down on the table.
The hot green peas are sold out in halfpennyworths and pennyworths, some vendors, in addition to the usual seasoning supplied, add a suck of bacon.
So Mrs. Jones advised Mrs. Sparks, at the Cross, to keep a couple of cows, and sell out the milk by halfpennyworths.
Ibsen sets himself to discover the halfpennyworth of significance in all this intolerable deal of irrelevance.
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More About Halfpennyworth
What doesÌıhalfpennyworth mean?
A halfpennyworth is as much as you can buy for a halfpenny, as in I’ll have a halfpennyworth of licorice, sir.Ìı
It can also be used in a figurative way to mean a very small amount, as in He doesn’t have a pennyworth of common sense. It’s often used to refer to an amount considered trivial or unimportant. Sometimes, it’s used in a way similar to the phrase two cents when it means one’s (unimportant) opinion, as in Here’s my halfpennyworth.Ìı
Halfpennyworth is an old-fashioned word that’s rarely used literally, due to the fact that nothing costs a halfpenny anymore. Its figurative use is also uncommon.
Halfpennyworth is sometimes abbreviated as ³ó²¹â€™p’o°ù³Ù³ó (or with other contractions). It’s most closely associated with its use in the U.K. The former halfpenny coin was worth one half of a penny (pluralized as pence), which was worth one twelfth of a shilling. The related term pennyworth (sometimes abbreviated as ±è±ğ²Ô²Ô’o°ù³Ù³ó) refers to an amount that can be bought for a penny.
In U.K. slang, the term daft pennyworth (or daft ³ó²¹â€™p’o°ù³Ù³ó) is used as a mild insult or an endearing way to refer to someone considered a bit daft—foolish.
Example: This doesn’t make a halfpennyworth of sense!
Where doesÌıhalfpennyworth come from?
The first records of the word halfpennyworth come from around 1000, and the word pennyworth is recorded even earlier. It comes from the Old English word penigweorth, which is a combination of the words that preceded penny and worth.
Pennyworth and halfpennyworth are no longer commonly used, and the same goes for even more old-timey-sounding terms like tuppence worth. However, worth is still commonly used in the same way in similar terms like dollar’s worth, as in I bought nine dollar’s worth of fabric.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to halfpennyworth?
- ³ó²¹â€™p’o°ù³Ù³ó (contracted spelling)
What are some synonyms for halfpennyworth?
- halfpenny’s worth
- pennyworth (when used figuratively)
What are some words that share a root or word element with halfpennyworth?Ìı
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What are some words that often get used in discussing halfpennyworth?
How isÌıhalfpennyworth used in real life?
The word halfpennyworth is very rarely used.
Apparently DDS tape drives are 'ten-a-penny'. We have a halfpennyworth of them then. Wow.
— mauvedeity (@mauvedeity)
"O monstrous! But one halfpennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack!"
H4P1 (2.4)— Meagan (@Writerchick10)
Weirdest regional slang I use: apeth (to mean "silly" or "daft"), from ha'p'orth, from halfpennyworth. You know, cause someone isn't acting a full penny.
My mother called me this for years and because of her pet name for me I thought it had to do with apes/monkeys…
— James 💋 (@wisdomlikethis)
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Try usingÌıhalfpennyworth!
True or False?Ìı
Halfpennyworth can be used figuratively to mean a very small amount.
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