poorly

poorly
   1. very seriously ill
   Hospital jargon, replacing the normal meaning, unwell, and seeking to comfort the family of the patient.
   2. menstruating
   Again unwell, and often in the phrase my poorly time.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • Poorly — Poor ly, adv. 1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly. [1913 Webster] 2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage; as, to do poorly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poorly — is both an adverb (They all performed poorly) and an adjective (= unwell, Her husband had been poorly for months). As in this example, the adjective is normally used after a verb (such as be), rather than in attributive position (before a noun) …   Modern English usage

  • Poorly — Poor ly, a. Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. Having been poorly in health. T. Scott. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poorly — [adj] not well ailing, below par, failing, ill, indisposed, low, mean, out of sorts*, rotten*, sick, sickly, under the weather*, unwell; concept 314 Ant. healthy, well poorly [adv] unsatisfactorily badly, crudely, defectively, inadequately,… …   New thesaurus

  • poorly — [poor′lē] adv. 1. in a poor manner, as scantily, badly, or defectively 2. with a low opinion; disparagingly [thought poorly of it] adj. Informal in poor health …   English World dictionary

  • poorly — (adv.) c.1300, from POOR (Cf. poor) + LY (Cf. ly) (2). Meaning in ill health is from 1750 …   Etymology dictionary

  • poorly — ► ADVERB ▪ in a poor manner. ► ADJECTIVE chiefly Brit. ▪ unwell …   English terms dictionary

  • poorly — poor|ly1 [ˈpo:li US ˈpurli] adv badly ▪ Jana s doing poorly in school. ▪ poorly educated workers ▪ The article was poorly written. poorly 2 poorly2 adj BrE informal ill ▪ Matt s wife s been very poorly …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • poorly — 1 adverb badly: poorly paid | Jana s doing poorly in school. | a poorly written article 2 adjective (not before noun) informal especially BrE ill: Matt s wife s been feeling poorly …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • poorly — I UK [ˈpɔː(r)lɪ] / UK [ˈpʊə(r)lɪ] / US [ˈpʊrlɪ] adverb * badly a poorly paid job The hospital is poorly equipped. • be poorly off II UK [ˈpɔː(r)lɪ] / UK [ˈpʊə(r)lɪ] / US [ˈpʊrlɪ] adjective British informal ill …   English dictionary

  • poorly — / pɔ:li/ adverb badly ● The offices are poorly laid out. ● The plan was poorly presented. ♦ poorly paid staff staff with low wages …   Dictionary of banking and finance

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