Langimage
English

poorly-formed

|poor-ly-formed|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈpʊrli fɔrmd/

🇬🇧

/ˈpɔːli fɔːmd/

inadequately structured

Etymology
Etymology Information

'poorly-formed' originates from the combination of 'poorly,' meaning 'in a poor manner,' and 'formed,' meaning 'shaped or constructed.'

Historical Evolution

'poorly-formed' evolved from the Middle English word 'forme,' which meant 'shape or structure,' combined with 'poorly,' which has been used since the 14th century to denote 'inadequately.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'inadequately shaped or structured,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

not constructed or organized in a clear or logical manner.

The argument was poorly-formed, lacking evidence and coherence.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/02/12 01:41