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Fine Dictionary

paltry

ˈpɔltri
WordNet
  1. (adj) paltry
    contemptibly small in amount "a measly tip","the company donated a miserable $100 for flood relief","a paltry wage","almost depleted his miserable store of dried beans"
  2. (adj) paltry
    not worth considering "he considered the prize too paltry for the lives it must cost","piffling efforts","a trifling matter"
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
  1. paltry
    Mean; worthless; despicable: as, a paltry trifle; often in a mitigated sense, of little value of consequence.
  2. paltry
    Synonyms Despicable, Pitiful, etc. (see contemptible), insignificant, petty, miserable, wretched, trifling, trivial.
  3. (n) paltry
    A wretched, worthless trifle.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
  1. (adj) Paltry
    pawl′tri mean: vile: 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
Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Cf. Prov. E. paltry, refuse, rubbish, LG. palterig, ragged, palte, palter, a rag, a tatter, Dan. pialt, Sw. palta, pl. paltor,

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary Teut.; Dan. pialter, rags, Low Ger. paltrig, ragged.

Usage in the news

At press time, Hurricane Isaac is stalled over New Orleans moving at a paltry six miles per hour, and while East Texas should get a pretty good soaking tomorrow (August 30), Lufkin is not expected to shelter evacuees . q1077.com

Paltry investment means capacity isn't keeping pace with growth in the number of vehicles on Va. From the RoundTable blog. roanoke.com

I am surprised that the Flint Journal's endorsement can be bought for a paltry few million in spending for Flint, especially when this president is spreading trillions around the country. mlive.com

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

LONDON – Central banks, among the most conservative asset managers in the world, are buying more stocks because of the paltry returns and negative yields available from top-rated sovereign bonds. foxbusiness.com

Central banks, among the most conservative asset managers in the world, are buying more stocks because of the paltry returns and negative yields available from top-rated sovereign bonds. msnbc.msn.com

Paltry showing at Johnny Pesky funeral an embarrassment. eei.com

Mavericks-Thunder playoff series posts paltry 6.9 combined TV rating. dallasnews.com

Will mines get state's riches for a paltry sum. freep.com

America's Paltry Energy R&D Spending. motherjones.com

Commission Rejects Paltry Fine for Fatal Jim Walters Explosion. umwa.org

Apple Will Pay For Paltry Samsung Apology. informationweek.com

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

New York-based companies like ABM, Pritchard and JP Morgan Chase are all contractors of the Houston janitors that, until yesterday, refused to increase the paltry $9,000 a year average wage for janitors . texasobserver.org

Party electorate a paltry 26. ashingtontimes.com

Usage in literature

She looked upon him as mean and paltry because he was willing to submit to Mr. Camperdown. "The Eustace Diamonds" by Anthony Trollope

And two ships despatched upon a paltry job of that sort! "Springhaven" by R. D. Blackmore

Put in a paltry thousand or two, and you shall go halves. "The Caxtons, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

That dowry would more than cover the paltry debt upon the lands. "What Will He Do With It, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

I had at least his secret, if I had failed of the paltry supply he had drawn from its uses. "A Strange Story, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

And my marriage will take place so soon; and the dower would so amply cover the paltry advance required. "My Novel, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Why not take up your abode there instead of in a paltry lodging in the town? "Paul Clifford, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Meanwhile we will join capitals: I my paltry notes, you your grand name. "The Parisians, Complete" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

What are a few paltry pistoles to a man's life? "Jack North's Treasure Hunt" by Roy Rockwood

You must be as great a blackguard as your client, to serve your paltry writs on me in my own house. "A Terrible Temptation" by Charles Reade

Usage in poetry
Man never yet has loved a maid,
But they were sure to part, sir;
Nor never lacked a paltry spade
But that he drew a heart, sir!
'But I must take the horse from him,
And with it to my lady ride,
Ev'n though I know this paltry act
Befits no honest man of pride.
The great Earth said to the poet,
"What are your paltry wrongs,
That still you must worship your sorrows,
And fashion them into songs?
They sing, but what is their singing?
And what are their paltry words
To the music that had no sadness
In the house of the singing birds?
The story dear our wise men fable call,
Give paltry facts the mighty range;
To me it seems just what should fall,
And nothing very strange.
The same old world of greed and hate,
Of selfish act and paltry aim,
Of private fraud and venal State,
Of deeds and doers steeped in shame!