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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