poverty

n. 贫困；困难；缺少；低劣

中文词源

poverty 贫穷，贫乏

来自古法语poverte,贫穷，贫乏，来自拉丁语pauper,穷的，少的，词源同poor.

poverty: poverty: see poor
poverty (n.): late 12c., from Old French poverte "poverty, misery, wretched condition" (Modern French pauvreté), from Latin paupertatem (nominative paupertas) "poverty," from pauper "poor" (see poor (adj.)).
Seeing so much poverty everywhere makes me think that God is not rich. He gives the appearance of it, but I suspect some financial difficulties. [Victor Hugo, "Les Misérables," 1862]
Poverty line attested from 1901; poverty trap from 1966; poverty-stricken from 1803.

2. They refuse to do anything about the real cause of crime: poverty.: 他们拒绝采取措施解决引发犯罪的真正问题：贫穷。

3. He stole, lied, deceived and pimped his way out of poverty.: 他通过偷窃、撒谎、欺诈和拉皮条使自己摆脱了贫困。

4. Poverty and illiteracy go together with high birth rates.: 贫困、文盲与高出生率密切相关。

5. The poverty figures were undoubtedly an embarrassment to the president.: 贫困数字毫无疑问让总统非常难堪。