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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.

333 words match “POOR”

POOR a. 14 definitions

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.

A small European fish, similar to the cod, but of inferior quality. Poor-john and apple pies are all our fare. Sir J. Harrington.

POOR-SPIRITED a.

Of a mean spirit; cowardly; base. -- Poor"-spir`it*ed*ness, n.

A bird of the Western United States (Phalænoptilus Nutalli) allied to the whip-poor-will.

The bar-tailed godwit. [Prov. Eng.]

A receptacle in which money given for the poor is placed.

A dwelling for a number of paupers maintained at public expense; an almshouse; a workhouse.

The quality or state of being poorly; ill health.

POORLY adv. 5 definitions

In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly.

The quality or state of being poor (in any of the senses of the adjective). Bacon.

To impoverish. [Obs.]

Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much unprofitable land. [Colloq.]

SPOOR n. 2 definitions

The track or trail of any wild animal; as, the spoor of an elephant; -- used originally by travelers in South Africa.

WHIP-POOR-WILL n.

An American bird (Antrostomus vociferus) allied to the nighthawk and goatsucker; -- so called in imitation of the peculiar notes which it utters in the evening. [Written also whippowil.]

1 Cor. vii. 20. Followed by by: To abide by. (a) To stand to; to adhere; to maintain. The poor fellow was obstinate enough to abide by what he said at first. Fielding.

dwells; abiding place; residence; a dwelling; a habitation. Come, let me lead you to our poor abode. Wordsworth.

Cold. [Obs.] "Poor Tom's acold." Shak.

part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.

btained credit by long use; a proverb. Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat i' the adage. Shak.

yet unborn." Pope. The way which the age follows. J. H. Newman. Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage, Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age. C. Sprague.