The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Friar \Fri"ar\, n. [OR. frere, F. fr[`e]re brother, friar, fr.
L. frater brother. See Brother.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) A brother or member of any religious order,
but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz:
(a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans. (b)
Augustines. (c) Dominicans or Black Friars. (d) White
Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Print.) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) An American fish; the silversides.
[1913 Webster]
Friar bird (Zool.), an Australian bird (Tropidorhynchus
corniculatus), having the head destitute of feathers; --
called also coldong, leatherhead, pimlico; poor
soldier, and four-o'clock. The name is also applied to
several other species of the same genus.
Friar's balsam (Med.), a stimulating application for wounds
and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin,
styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of
benzoin. --Brande & C.
Friar's cap (Bot.), the monkshood.
Friar's cowl (Bot.), an arumlike plant (Arisarum vulgare)
with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl.
Friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp.
--Milton.
Friar skate (Zool.), the European white or sharpnosed skate
(Raia alba); -- called also Burton skate, border
ray, scad, and doctor.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Law) So completely destitute of property as to be
entitled to maintenance from the public.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
That I have wronged no man will be a poor plea
or apology at the last day. --Calamy.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
And for mine own poor part,
Look you, I'll go pray. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. --Prior.
[1913 Webster]
5. Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit." --Matt. v. 3.
[1913 Webster]
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 (Zool.), 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.
[1913 Webster]