1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 

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