'The poor' definitions:
Definition of 'The poor'
From: 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea or apology at the last day. --Calamy. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- And for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. --Prior. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." --Matt. v. 3. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
Words containing 'The poor'
- Poor,
- Poorly,
- Poorly off,
- Poorness,
- Guardians of the poor,
- Poor Clares,
- Poor heart,
- Poor law,
- Poor rate,
- Poor soldier,
- Poor-will,
- poor box,
- poor boy,
- poor devil,
- poor fish,
- poor people,
- poor person,
- poor rates,
- poor speller,
- poor taste,
- standard and poor's,
- Land-poor,
- Little Sisters of the Poor,
- Poor man's treacle,
- Poor man's weatherglass,
- Poor-john,
- Poor-spirited,
- Poor-spiritedness,
- Poor-willie,
- Whip-poor-will,
- poor man's orchid,
- poor man's pulse,
- poor white trash,
- rich vs poor,
- standard and poor's index