Definition: poorly

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

poorly
     adj : somewhat ill or prone to illness; "my poor ailing
           grandmother"; "feeling a bit indisposed today"; "you
           look a little peaked"; "feeling poorly"; "a sickly
           child"; "is unwell and can't come to work" [syn: ailing,
            indisposed, peaked, poorly, sickly, unwell]
     adv : (`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or
           improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well; "he was
           ill prepared"; "it ill befits a man to betray old
           friends"; "the car runs badly"; "he performed badly on
           the exam"; "the team played poorly"; "ill-fitting
           clothes"; "an ill-conceived plan" [syn: ill, badly]
           [ant: well]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Poorly \Poor"ly\, adv.
   1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or
      sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to
      live poorly.

   2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little
      profit or advantage; as, to do poorly in business.

   3. Meanly; without spirit.

            Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, That
            from his wars they poorly would retire. --Dryden.

   4. Without skill or merit; as, he performs poorly.

   Poorly off, not well off; not rich.
Poorly \Poor"ly\, a.
   Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. ``Having been poorly
   in health.'' --T. Scott.