paucity, pebble, peccadillo, pedantry, penury: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 178. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. paucity · noun/ˈpɔːkɪti/

   the presence of something in insufficient quantity

   The research study highlighted the paucity of resources available for mental health services in rural areas.

   Synonyms: scarcity, insufficiency, dearth

   Origin: from Latin 'paucitas', from 'paucus' meaning 'few'

2. pebble · noun/ˈpɛbəl/

   a small round stone often found on beaches or in rivers

   The children collected smooth pebbles from the beach to paint and decorate.

   Synonyms: stone, rock, gravel

   Origin: Middle English 'pebble', from Old English 'papol' which referred to small stones or pebbles.

3. peccadillo · noun/ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/

   a minor sin or offense

   While he was reprimanded for his peccadillo of arriving late to meetings, his overall performance remained impressive.

   Synonyms: misdeed, transgression, infraction

   Origin: from Spanish 'peccadillo', diminutive of 'pecado', meaning 'sin'

4. pedantry · noun/ˈpɛdəntri/

   excessive concern with minor details and rules

   His pedantry was evident in the way he corrected every minor grammatical mistake during the meeting.

   Synonyms: dogmatism, nitpicking, literalism

   Origin: The word 'pedantry' originates from the French word 'pédanterie,' which means 'a showy display of knowledge' and is derived from 'pédant,' meaning 'pedant' or 'schoolmaster.' The root 'ped' comes from the Latin 'peda,' meaning 'child' or 'boy,' relating to the idea of someone who overly emphasizes formal rules or details.

5. penury · noun/ˈpɛn.jər.i/

   extreme poverty or destitution

   After the financial crisis, many families fell into penury, struggling to make ends meet.

   Synonyms: poverty, destitution, indigence

   Origin: from Latin 'penuria' meaning 'scarcity' or 'lack'