poor
poor definition
poor (po̵or)
adjective
- lacking material possessions; having little or no means to support oneself; needy; impoverished
- indicating or characterized by poverty
- lacking in some quality or thing; specif.,
- lacking abundance; scanty; inadequate poor crops
- lacking productivity; barren; sterile poor soil
- lacking nourishment; feeble; emaciated a poor body
- lacking excellence or worth; below average, inferior, bad, etc. or paltry, mean, insignificant, etc.
- lacking good moral or mental qualities; mean-spirited; contemptible
- lacking pleasure, comfort, or satisfaction to have a poor time
- lacking skill
- worthy of pity; unfortunate
Etymology: ME pore < OFr povre < L pauper, poor < IE base *pōu-, small > few, foal
Related Forms:
- poorness poor′·ness noun
poor Idioms
the poor
poor, or needy, people collectively
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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