1560s, probably an adjectival use of noun paltry "worthless thing" (1550s), associated with dialectal palt, pelt "trash," cognate with Middle Low German and East Frisian palte "rag," Middle Dutch palt "broken or torn fragment." Similar formation in Low German paltrig "rubbishy," East Frisian palterig "ragged, torn."
雙語例句
1. They suffered an electoral catastrophe, winning a paltry 3 seats.
他們在選舉中慘敗，僅獲得微不足道的3個席位。
來自柯林斯例句
2. They believe they're playing a zero-sum game, where both must compete for the same paltry resources.
他們明白他們正處于一場零和博弈中，雙方必須針鋒相對，爭奪那少得可憐的資源。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.
那些家長對家里雞毛蒜皮的小事沒什么興趣。
來自辭典例句
4. How can you deliberately get up such paltry falsehoods?
你怎么能故意編造出這么卑鄙的謊話?
來自辭典例句
5. I'm getting angry; and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.