Word
sous
US/ˈsuz/
UK/sˈuːz/
Definition
n. a very small amount of money. People used this word in the past for a French coin that was not worth much.
n. a former French coin of low value, equivalent to five centimes. Often used figuratively in negative constructions to indicate a total lack of funds.
Examples
“He spent every last sous on his journey.”
“After the business failed and the debts were settled, the family found themselves without a single sous to their name.”
“The protagonist's descent into poverty is marked by his willingness to perform menial tasks for a few sous, illustrating the harsh economic realities of nineteenth-century urban life.”
Examples
simple
“He spent every last sous on his journey.”
contextual
“After the business failed and the debts were settled, the family found themselves without a single sous to their name.”
complex
“The protagonist's descent into poverty is marked by his willingness to perform menial tasks for a few sous, illustrating the harsh economic realities of nineteenth-century urban life.”
Usage
Often appears in the plural form 'sous' or in the idiomatic phrase 'not a sous'.
Real-World Examples
“Ingredients are first placed in a sealed ceramic vessel and then submerged in a larger pot of boiling water, much like sous vide or an enclosed bain-marie.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/sous