Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   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.

   2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be
      entitled to maintenance from the public.

   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.

                That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea
                or apology at the last day.       --Calamy.

   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.

            And for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray.
                                                  --Shak.

            Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. --Prior.

   5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek.
      ``Blessed are the poor in spirit.'' --Matt. v. 3.

   {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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.