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adj. poor·er, poor·est 1. a. Having insufficient wealth to meet the necessities or comforts of life or to live in a manner considered acceptable in a society. b. Relating to or characterized by poverty: the poor side of town. 2. Deficient or lacking in a specified resource or quality: an area poor in timber and coal; a diet poor in calcium. 3. Not adequate in quality or quantity; inferior: a poor performance; poor wages. 4. Negative, unfavorable, or disapproving: has a poor opinion of the mayor. 5. Undernourished; lean. Used especially of animals. 6. Humble; meek: "Let the humble ones arise, the poor in heart be glad" (John Greenleaf Whittier). 7. Eliciting or deserving pity; pitiable: couldn't rescue the poor fellow. n. (used with a pl. verb) Poor people considered as a group: The urban poor are in need of homes. [Middle English poure, from Old French povre, from Latin pauper; see pau-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] poorness n. Usage Note: In informal speech poor is sometimes used as an adverb, as in They never played poorer. In formal usage more poorly would be required in this example. |
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