Destitution of property; indigence; poverty; want; as the poorness of the exchequer. No less I hate him than the gates of hell, That poorness can force an untruth to tell.

Meanness; lowness; want of dignity; as the poorness of language.

Want of spirit; as poorness and degeneracy of spirit.

Barrenness; sterility; as the poorness of land or soil.

Unproductiveness; want of the metallic substance; as the poorness of ore.

Smallness or bad quality; as the poorness of crops or of grain.

Want of value or importance; as the poorness of a plea.

Want of good qualities, or the proper qualities which constitute a thing good in its kind; as the poorness of a ship or of cloth.

Narrowness; barrenness; want of — capacity. Poorness of spirit, in a theological sense, true humility or contrition of heart on account of sin.