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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Poor \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.
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Note: 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.
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2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be
entitled to maintenance from the public.
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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.
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That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea
or apology at the last day. --Calamy.
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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.
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And for mine own poor part,
Look you, I'll go pray. --Shak.
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Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. --Prior.
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5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit." --Matt. v. 3.
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{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} (Zool.), 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.
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