adj., -tri·er, -tri·est.
- Lacking in importance or worth. See synonyms at trivial.
- Wretched or contemptible.
[Probably from obsolete and dialectal paltry, trash, perhaps from Low German paltrig, ragged, from palte, rag.]
paltrily pal'tri·ly adv.paltriness pal'tri·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
