Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEA-GER, a. [Fr. maigre; Sp. and It. magro; L. macer; D. G. Dan. and Sw. mager; Gr. μικκος, μικρος, μικρος, small; allied to Eng. meek; Ch. מאך, to be thin, to be depressed, to subdue; Heb. מוך, id. Class Mg, No. 2, 9, 10, 13.]

1. Thin; lean; destitute of flesh or having little flesh; applied to animals. Meager were his looks, / Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. Shak.
2. Poor; barren; destitute of richness, fertility, or any thing valuable; as, a meager soil; meager limestone. Journ. of Science.
3. Barren; poor; wanting strength of diction, or richness of ideas or imagery, as, a meager style or composition; meager annals.