Poorer

1 definition found

From 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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