I.fem. paupera, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 12, 519, called obsolete by Varr. L. L. 8, § 77 Müll.—Neutr. pauperum, Cael. Aur. Tard. 1, 1, 33.—Gen. plur. pauperorum, Petr. 46 dub.; Inscr. ex Ann. p. Chr. n. 341: AMATOR PAVPERORVM, ap. Fea, Framm. de' Fasti Cons. p. 90), adj. root παυ- of παῦρος (cf. paucus, etc.), and per- of pario, pe-per-i, producing little, poor, i. e. not wealthy, of small means, that has only enough for his moderate expenses (cf.: indigus, egenus, inops).—Absol.: “pauper, cui opera vita erat, ruri fere Se continebat,” Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 16: “qui (judices) saepe propter invidiam adimunt diviti, Aut propter misericordiam addunt pauperi,” id. ib. 2, 1, 47: “optavit honeste in patriā pauper vivere,” id. And. 4, 5, 3: “servus domini pauperis,” id. Eun. 3, 2, 33; Cic. Par. 6, 3, 50: “sisne ex pauperrimo dives factus,” id. Vatin. 12, 29: “si abundans opibus pauperem se vocet,” Quint. 11, 1, 21: “quod Aeque pauperibus prodest, locupletibus aeque,” Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 25.—With in and abl.: “meo sum pauper in aere,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 12.—
(β).
With gen.: “horum Semper ego optarim pauperrimus esse bonorum,” Hor. S. 1, 1, 79: “pauper Opimius argenti positi intus et auri,” id. ib. 2, 3, 142: “aquae,” id. C. 3, 30, 11.— Subst.: pauper , ĕris, comm., a poor man: “pauperum tabernae,” Hor. C. 1, 4, 13: “pauperum cenae,” id. ib. 3, 29, 14: “pauperum sepulcra,” id. Epod. 17, 47: “pauperiorum turbae,” id. S. 1, 1, 111.—
2. Of things, poor, scanty, inconsiderable, small, meagre (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose).—Absol.: “pauperes res inopesque,” Plaut. Rud. 1, 5, 24: “ager,” Tib. 1, 1, 23 (19): “mensa,” id. 1, 1, 37: “pauperis tuguri culmen,” Verg. E. 1, 69: “domus,” id. A. 12, 519: “et carmen venā pauperiore fluit,” Ov. P. 4, 2, 20: “pauper pudor,” Phaedr. 2, 1, 14: “nomina pauperis aevi,” Luc. 10, 151: “eloquentia,” Quint. 10, 5, 5.— With gen.: “pauper sulci cerealis Abella,” Sil. 8, 545.—With abl.: exemplis pauperior, App. Flor. fin.—
B. Transf., for egenus, needy, indigent: homo Pauper, qui educit in egestate liberos, Caecil. ap. Gell. 2, 23, 21: “inopes ac pauperes,” Cic. Par. 6, 3, 52.—
II. Trop., poor, feeble, intellectually (very rare; cf. “miser, misellus): miser enim et (ut ita dicam) pauper orator est, qui, etc.,” Quint. 8 prooem. § 28.—
(β).
Pauperes spiritu, i. e. humble, Vulg. Matt. 5, 3.—Hence, adv., poorly; in comp.: “pauperius incedit,” Tert. Cult. Fem. 11 fin.