I. ˈpu̇(ə)rlē, ˈpu̇əlē, -li, especially in southern US, NE, & Brit ˈpō(ə)r- or ˈpōəl- or ˈpȯ(ə)r- or ˈpȯ(ə)l- adverb
Etymology: Middle English pourely, from poure poor + -ly
: in a poor manner or condition: as
a. : very inadequately : in an inferior or imperfect way : ineffectively , insufficiently , undesirably
millions of students can write poorly without knowing any grammar at all — James Binney
a pioneer college with few buildings, poorly equipped — A.B.Noble
b. : in actual want
would live as poorly now as he did more than a hundred years ago — Philip Toynbee
c. obsolete : without generosity : shabbily
a man who poorly left me — Richard Steele
d. archaic : without spirit or courage : abjectly
to set free the minds … from longing to return poorly under that captivity of kings — John Milton
II. adjective
: somewhat ill : not in good health : indisposed
had been poorly lately
she was poorly with the slow fever — Conrad Richter