meager
UK: ˈmiːɡə | US: ˈmiːɡər
adj. lacking in quantity or quality; scanty
adj. deficient in richness or fertility; thin
adj. (of a person) lean or thin
The word "meager" traces back to the Latin macrum, meaning "lean" or "thin," which evolved into Old French megre. The morpheme mea- reflects the idea of smallness or deficiency, while -ger (from -gre) carries the sense of bearing or condition. Over time, the term broadened from describing physical thinness to encompassing scarcity in quantity or quality, retaining its core notion of insufficiency.
The refugees survived on meager rations during the harsh winter.
His meager salary made it difficult to support his family.
The soil was too meager to sustain healthy crops.
She gave a meager apology, lacking sincerity.
Despite his meager frame, he possessed surprising strength.