poor
UK: pɔː(r) | US: pʊr
adj. lacking sufficient money or resources to live comfortably
adj. of inferior quality; substandard
adj. deserving pity or sympathy
The word "poor" traces back to Old French "povre," derived from Latin "pauper" (combining "pau-" <few> + "-par" <producing>). It originally described someone who produced little wealth. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass both material lack ("lacking money") and qualitative deficiency ("inferior"). The spelling simplified in Middle English, dropping the "v" from "pouvre." The dual sense of economic and qualitative poverty reflects the word’s logical progression from literal scarcity to broader inadequacy.
Many families became poor after the economic crisis.
The poor condition of the building made it unsafe.
She felt poor in spirit after the loss of her pet.
The soil here is poor for growing crops.
He donated clothes to help the poor in his community.