POORLY
ailing, indisposed, peaked, poorly, sickly, unwell, under the weather, seedy
(adjective) somewhat ill or prone to illness; âmy poor ailing grandmotherâ; âfeeling a bit indisposed todayâ; âyou look a little peakedâ; âfeeling poorlyâ; âa sickly childâ; âis unwell and canât come to workâ
ill, badly, poorly
(adverb) (âillâ is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well; âhe was ill preparedâ; âit ill befits a man to betray old friendsâ; âthe car runs badlyâ; âhe performed badly on the examâ; âthe team played poorlyâ; âill-fitting clothesâ; âan ill-conceived planâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Adverb
poorly (comparative poorlier or more poorly, superlative poorliest or most poorly)
In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
Meanly; without spirit.
Without skill or merit.
Usage notes
• Verbs to which "poorly" is often applied as an adverb to suggest insufficiency or inadequacy: planned, conceived, executed, implemented, performing, managed, controlled, designed, represented, differentiated, suited, built, dressed, soluble, ventilated, known, paid, used etc.
Example: Putting a Clif bar in a Magic Bullet will end poorly.
Etymology 2
Adjective
poorly (not comparable)
ill, unwell, sick
Synonyms
• See also diseased
Anagrams
• pyloro-
Source: Wiktionary
Poor"ly, adv.
1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or
suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly.
2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or
advantage; as, to do poorly in business.
3. Meanly; without spirit.
Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, That from his wars they
poorly would retire. Dryden.
4. Without skill or merit; as, he performs poorly. Poorly off, not
well off; not rich.
Poor"ly, a.
Definition: Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. "Having been poorly in
health." T. Scott.
POOR
Poor, a. [Compar. Poorer (; 254); superl. Poorest.] Etym: [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)
Definition: So completely destitute of property as to be entitled to
maintenance from the public.
3. Hence, in very various applications:
Definition: 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
Poor, n. (Zoöl.)
Definition: A small European codfish (Gadus minutus); -- called also power
cod.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition