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pennyworth
[ pen-ee-wurth ]
noun
- as much as may be bought for a penny:
a pennyworth of candy.
- a small quantity:
He chimed in with a grudging pennyworth of praise.
- a bargain.
pennyworth
/ ËąčɲÔɪˡÉÉËθ /
noun
- the amount that can be bought for a penny
- a small amount
he hasn't got a pennyworth of sense
yĐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of pennyworth1
Example Sentences
Making a point of order in the Commons later on Wednesday, Mr Cunningham said: "Before the prime minister answered, the home secretary chose to add in his pennyworth."
âThe big treat was a pennyworth of peanut butter.â
Dr. Watson is shocked, but Holmes insists, âIf we went round the moon it would not make a pennyworth of difference to me or my work.â
Each of us received sixpence a week for pocket-money, and whenever there was any money in our pockets, we would all troop in together to buy a pennyworth of this or that.
A little girl came in for a pennyworth of bicarbonate of soda, and Howell, returning from serving her, again showed his white, but false, teeth.
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More About Pennyworth
What doesĚýpennyworth mean?
A pennyworth is as much as you can buy for a penny, as in Iâll have a pennyworth of licorice, sir.Ěý
It can also be used in a figurative way to mean a very small amount, as in He doesnât have a pennyworth of common sense, or a bargain, as in We can get it for a pennyworth!
Pennyworth is an old-fashioned word thatâs rarely used literally, due to the fact that nothing costs a penny anymore. Its figurative use is also uncommon.
Pennyworth is sometimes abbreviated as ąčąđ˛Ô˛Ôâo°ůłŮłó. Itâs most closely associated with its use in the U.K. Although the word penny is often used in the U.S. as an informal name for the one-cent coin officially known as the cent, the penny in pennyworth referred for much of the wordâs history to the former British penny (pluralized as pence), which was worth one twelfth of a shilling. The related term halfpennyworth (sometimes abbreviated as łó˛šâpâo°ůłŮłó) refers to an amount that could be bought for a halfpenny.
Example: My great grandmother used to tell me stories about going to the shop and buying a pennyworth of candy.
Where doesĚýpennyworth come from?
The first records of the word pennyworth come from before 1000. 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 dollarâs worth, as in I bought nine dollarâs worth of fabric.Ěý
In pop culture, the word serves as the last name of Alfred Pennyworth, trusty British butler of Bruce Wayne and confidant of Wayneâs alter-ego, Batman.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to pennyworth?
- pennâorth (contracted spelling)
What are some synonyms for pennyworth?
- pennyâs worth
- halfpennyworth (when used figuratively)
What are some words that share a root or word element with pennyworth?Ěý
What are some words that often get used in discussing pennyworth?
What are some words pennyworth may be commonly confused with?
How isĚýpennyworth used in real life?
The word pennyworth is not commonly used anymore. Its literal use is especially rare.
The Mary Trump book is out July 28; I might get a copy, but Bolton? no. I wouldn't send a pennyworth of commerce in Bolton's direction. At this point the information in his book isn't even worth a penny.
Bolton, the miserable coward, deserves nothing but our collective ostracism.â Eric Whitney (@EricExtempore)
Stay warm!
"All hot!âif you are cold,/ Have a pennyworth of heat,/ Something nice and warm to hold,/ Something nice and warm to eat," says the Chestnut Woman in this late Victorian book of childrenâs poetry:
â WorldDigitalLibrary (@WDLorg)
O, if only we had a pennyworth of sadness, / quietness without anger, love without jealousy! -Boris Chichibabin
â Poets House (@poetshouse)
Ěý
Ěý
Try usingĚýpennyworth!
True or False?Ěý
Pennyworth can be used figuratively to mean a small amount.
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