Definition of Poor-spirited

1. Adjective. Lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful.

Exact synonyms: Pusillanimous, Unmanly
Similar to: Cowardly, Fearful
Derivative terms: Pusillanimity, Pusillanimousness, Unmanliness

Lexicographical Neighbors of Poor-spirited

poor
poor-mouth
poor-spirited (current term)
poor as a church mouse
poor box
poor boxes
poor boy
poor boys
poor devil
poor diddums
poor fish
poor knights of Windsor
poor law
poor man
poor man's
poor man's Tiffany
poor man's copyright

Literary usage of Poor-spirited

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Mornings in the College Chapel: Short Addresses to Young Men on Personal by Francis Greenwood Peabody (1898)
"It sometimes seems as if Christians thought that to be poor in spirit one must be poor-spirited —a limp and spiritless creature, without dash, or vigor, ..."

2. The British Pulpit: A Collection of Sermons by the Most Eminent Divines of (1843)
"The poor- spirited are those who act below the dignity of a man, ... These are your true poor-spirited beings. But there are other shades of the character ..."

3. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (1860)
"Well! he had never been one of those poor-spirited sneaks who would refuse to ... Mr. Tulliver would never have asked for any thing from so poor-spirited a ..."

4. Expository Notes, with Practical Observations, on the New Testament by William Burkitt (1844)
"'Tis not said, blessed art the poor-spirited, but, the poor in spirit. Such as act below and beneath themselves as men and as Christians, these are poor- ..."

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