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paltriness

 - 2 dictionary results

pal⋅try

  [pawl-tree]
Use paltriness in a Sentence
–adjective, -tri⋅er, -tri⋅est.
1. ridiculously or insultingly small: a paltry sum.
2. utterly worthless.
3. mean or contemptible: a paltry coward.
Origin:
1560–70; < LG paltrig ragged, equiv. to *palter rag (dial. G Palter) + -ig -y 1

Related forms:
pal⋅tri⋅ly, adverb
pal⋅tri⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. minor, inconsiderable, slight, insignificant. See petty.

Antonyms:
1. important, major.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To paltriness
pal·try   (pôl'trē)   
adj.   pal·tri·er, pal·tri·est

  1. Lacking in importance or worth. See Synonyms at trivial.

  2. Wretched or contemptible.


[Probably from obsolete and dialectal paltry, trash, perhaps from Low German paltrig, ragged, from palte, rag.]
pal'tri·ly adv., pal'tri·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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