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Fine Dictionary

paltriness

WordNet
  1. (n) paltriness
    worthlessness due to insignificance
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
  1. paltriness
    The state or quality of being paltry.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
  1. (n) paltriness
    The state of being paltry, vile, or worthless.
Quotations
William Butler Yeats
An aged man is but a paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick
William Butler Yeats
Demosthenes
You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.
Demosthenes
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hitch your wagon to a star. Let us not fag in paltry works which serve our pot and bag alone.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Usage in the news

Paltry return on investment . albanyherald.com

But in the Northeast–and in the Midwest–population growth was paltry. observer.com

In Washington, news has a paltry shelf life. metropulse.com

Turnout was a paltry 47.7. economist.com

The result is a passel of paltry batting averages. barnstablepatriot.com

Dixon defeated Bernhard A Greenfield 85 to 23, a paltry turnout in a district of 4,028 voters still weary from the general election. doverpost.com

To do anything is paltry screenwriting. boston.com

Postal Service Drain Leaves Week's Pay as Paltry Cushion . businessweek.com

You can't tell me that, at some point, Lucchino and Henry noticed the paltry showing and had a "What the hell". eei.com

Early adopters report Win 8 installs in a paltry 18 to 25 minutes. cantonrep.com

Party electorate a paltry 26. ashingtontimes.com

Paltry- Penis Perception Plagues Many Normal Men. krnv.com

Pity our paltry paydays. timesleader.com

In those quarters , Cutler has a paltry 63.4 passer rating. usatoday.com

When paltry growth, systemic risk and resource scarcity are darkening the global horizon, investors must hunt shrewdly to find stocks resilient enough to ride out the storm. htc.com

Usage in literature

I'd have you to know that I don't care a penny, madam, for your paltry money! "The Virginians" by William Makepeace Thackeray

An old paltry book, say you, sold by the hawking pedlars and balladmongers, entitled The Blason of Colours. "Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book I." by Francois Rabelais

Their order, proud gait, and resolute looks made us judge that they were none of your raw, paltry links, but old warlike Chitterlings and Sausages. "Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book IV." by Francois Rabelais

The poor thing's vengeance was theatrical and paltry, but what of the man, wherever he was? "The Christian A Story" by Hall Caine

I don't think it would amuse you to know that she was ugly, narrow, paltry, and that I was too good for her! "Plays: Comrades; Facing Death; Pariah; Easter" by August Strindberg

Had Reas exacted an hundred gold marks instead of two paltry marks of silver, I should willingly have given him them. "Olaf the Glorious" by Robert Leighton

How poor, how pitiful and paltry, seem our labors! "The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII) Old Portraits, Modern Sketches, Personal Sketches and Tributes, Historical Papers" by John Greenleaf Whittier

A sacred regard to free principles originated our independence, not the paltry amount of practical evil complained of. "The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII) The Conflict With Slavery, Politics and Reform, The Inner Life and Criticism" by John Greenleaf Whittier

How poor, how pitiful and paltry, seem our labors! "The Complete Works of Whittier The Standard Library Edition with a linked Index" by John Greenleaf Whittier

I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act! "Georgian Poetry 1920-22" by Various

Usage in poetry
The time was paltry, you’ll agree;
It took but little to begin it;
But since my heart has not been free
A minute.
'Take my share of a fickle heart,
Mine of a paltry love:
Take it or leave it as you will,
I wash my hands thereof.'
A slave is—what?
A being bought,
Or stolen from himself,
By Christians, who
This trade pursue,
For sordid, paltry pelf.
I am the gift of tongues that flame
Inspired resolve above:
I wither the weeds of paltry aim
That choke the growth of love.
But there, poor dog, my faithful friend,
Pay you no heed unto my sorrow;
I prithee take this paltry cake,—
Who knows but we shall starve to-morrow!
O, the wail of woman's sorrow, heard in Heaven's highest place!
Sister angels bowing lowly, as if weeping holy tears,
Till they look again and catch upon the heavenly Father's face
All the wisdom that we see not for our paltry human fears.