Poor Lady

English

Etymology

Originally an epithet of St Clare of Assisi herself.

Noun

Poor Lady (plural Poor Ladies)

1. (Catholicism) Synonym of Poor Clare: a nun of the Order of Saint Clare.
   • 1912, St Clare and Her Order, page 264:

     ...his widow became a Poor Lady in the convent of Strala, where she long fulfilled the office of abbess...

   • 1991, Thomas Head, “Clare of Assisi”, in An Encyclopedia of Continental Women Writers:

     Following Francis' example, Clare founded an order of religious women known as the Poor Ladies of Assisi (like Francis' Poor Men), and later as the Clarissas or Poor Clares in her honor.

   • 1995, Caroline A. Bruzelius, “Queen Sancia of Mallorca and the Convent Church of Sta. Chiara in Naples”, in Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, volume 40, page 75:

     The rule of Urban IV also clarified the nomenclature of the Clarissas, with the pope designating the group as the Order of St. Claire rather than Poor Ladies, or Poor Recluses, of San Damiano.