Poverty.

Usually with the: needful people as a class; the needy. In Middle English also (rare): †a needful person (obsolete). rare after 16th cent. exc. Sc…

A poor or destitute person; (with plural agreement, now with the) poor or destitute people as a class.

With plural agreement. Chiefly with the. Poor people (literal and figurative) as a class; esp. needy or destitute people. Frequently with…

the poor regarded as entrusted by God to the care of the devout.

Poor people as a class; the poor.

In plural in same sense.

With the: poor people as a class. Obsolete.

Poor people collectively.

= God's poor n.

With plural agreement. With the. Miserable people as a class, esp. those who are needy or distressed. Obsolete.

With plural agreement. With the. Necessitous people as a class; the poor or needy. Now chiefly historical.

With the and plural agreement. Those who require something; the needy. Obsolete.

A government elected by or consisting of the poor; (in extended use) poor people considered as a class.

With the and plural agreement. Those (people) who have fallen (in various senses, esp. in regard to status or morals). Also (occasionally) with sin…

With the and plural agreement. People who are worse off financially, considered as a class.

= poor, n.1