[poor] adj [ME poure, fr. OF povre, fr. L pauper; akin to L paucus little and to L parere to give birth to, produce--more at few, pare] (13c) 1 a: lacking material possessions b: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty
2. a: less than adequate: meager b: small in worth
3: exciting pity "you ~ thing"
4. a: inferior in quality or value b: humble, unpretentious c: mean, petty
5: lean, emaciated
6: barren, unproductive--used of land 7: indifferent, unfavorable 8: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified--often used in combination "oil-poor countries" -- poor.ish adj -- poor.ness n