Pōor, a.
a. [compar. POORER; superl. POOREST.] O. Eng. poore, povere, Norm. Fr. pour, pover, O. Fr. poure, povre, povere, N. Fr. pauvre, Pr. paure, paubre, paupre, Sp. & Pg. pobre, It. povero, Lat. pauper.
Sense 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.
Sense 2. (Law.) So completely destitute of property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public.
Sense 3. Hence, in very various applications, destitute of such qualities as are desirable, or as might naturally be expected; as, (a.) Wanting in fat, plumpness, or fleshiness; lean; emaciated; meager; as, a poor horse, ox, and the like. (b.) Wanting in strength or vigor;—said of health; as, to suffer from poor health. (c.) Of little value or worth; not good; inferior;—said of material things; as, a poor coat or house.
The marquis, making haste to Scarborough, embarked in a poor vessel. Clarendon.
(d.) Destitute of fertility; barren; sterile;—said of land; as, poor soil. (e.) Destitute of strength, beauty, or fitness;—said of literary composition; as, a poor essay or discourse. (f.) Very insufficient for an end or occasion; trifling; valueless; paltry; as a poor excuse or opinion.
That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea, or apology, at the last day. Calamy.
Sense 4. Worthy of pity or sympathy;—used also sometimes as a term of endearment, and sometimes as a word of slight contempt.
Vexed sailors curse the rain For which poor shepherds prayed in vain. Waller.
Poor, little, pretty, flattering thing. Prior.
The poor monk never saw many of the decrees and councils he had occasion to use. Baker.
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.