Poor (?), a. [Compar.
Poorer (?; 254); superl. Poorest.]
[OE. poure or povre, OF. povre, F. pauvre,
L. pauper; the first syllable of which is probably akin to
paucus few (see Paucity, Few), and the second to
parare to prepare, procure. See Few, and cf.
Parade, Pauper, Poverty.] 1.
Destitute of property; wanting in material riches or goods;
needy; indigent.
☞ It is often synonymous with indigent and with
necessitous denoting extreme want. It is also applied to
persons who are not entirely destitute of property, but who are not
rich; as, a poor man or woman; poor people.
2. (Law) So completely destitute of
property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public.
3. Hence, in very various applications:
Destitute of such qualities as are desirable, or might naturally
be expected; as: (a) Wanting in fat,
plumpness, or fleshiness; lean; emaciated; meager; as, a poor
horse, ox, dog, etc. "Seven other kine came up after them,
poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed." Gen. xli.
19. (b) Wanting in strength or vigor; feeble;
dejected; as, poor health; poor spirits. "His
genius . . . poor and cowardly." Bacon.
(c) Of little value or worth; not good; inferior;
shabby; mean; as, poor clothes; poor lodgings. "A
poor vessel." Clarendon. (d)
Destitute of fertility; exhausted; barren; sterile; -- said of
land; as, poor soil. (e) Destitute
of beauty, fitness, or merit; as, a poor discourse; a
poor picture. (f) Without prosperous
conditions or good results; unfavorable; unfortunate; unconformable;
as, a poor business; the sick man had a poor
night. (g) Inadequate; insufficient;
insignificant; as, a poor excuse.
That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea
or apology at the last day.
Calamy.
4. Worthy of pity or sympathy; -- used also
sometimes as a term of endearment, or as an expression of modesty, and
sometimes as a word of contempt.
And for mine own poor part,
Look you, I'll go pray.
Shak.
Poor, little, pretty, fluttering
thing.
Prior.
5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or
arrogant; meek. "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
Matt. v. 3.
Poor law, a law providing for, or regulating,
the relief or support of the poor. -- Poor man's
treacle (Bot.), garlic; -- so called because it
was thought to be an antidote to animal poison. [Eng] Dr.
Prior. -- Poor man's weatherglass (Bot.),
the red-flowered pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), which
opens its blossoms only in fair weather. -- Poor
rate, an assessment or tax, as in an English parish, for
the relief or support of the poor. -- Poor
soldier (Zoöl.), the friar bird. --
The poor, those who are destitute of property;
the indigent; the needy. In a legal sense, those who depend on charity
or maintenance by the public. "I have observed the more public
provisions are made for the poor, the less they provide for
themselves." Franklin.