generous
The word "penurious" can be seen as a context clue in a sentence if it helps the reader understand the meaning of another word in the same sentence. In this case, "penurious" provides an example or description to help clarify the meaning of the unknown word.
A penurious person is poor or stingy.
A penurious person is poor or stingy.
close, greedy, mercenary, mingy, miserly, niggard, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, rapacious, scrimpy, selfish, stingy, tight, tight-fisted
The penurious school system had to lay off several teachers.
The context clue used in the statement is an antonym or contrast clue. The word "penurious," which means extremely poor or stingy, is contrasted with "limitless generosity" to highlight the differences between the aunt and uncle. This contrast helps readers infer the meaning of "penurious" through the opposing qualities presented.
comparison
indigent , means Experiencing want or need; impoverished
Definitions of penurious on the Web: * hard up: not having enough money to pay for necessities * parsimonious: excessively unwilling to spend; "parsimonious thrift relieved by few generous impulses"; "lived in a most penurious manner--denying himself every indulgence"
The penurious school system had to lay off several teachers.
Less negative synonyms are frugal, thrifty, or pennywise. Other negative connotations are in penurious, miserly, tightfisted, and ungenerous.
Less negative synonyms are frugal, thrifty, or pennywise. Other negative connotations are in penurious, miserly, tightfisted, and ungenerous.