poverty（n.）
12世纪末， poverte，"贫困，贫穷，需要或物质上的不足"，源自古法语 poverte, povrete "贫困，悲惨的状况"（现代法语 pauvreté），源自拉丁语 paupertatem（主格 paupertas）"贫困"，源自 pauper "贫穷"（参见 poor（形容词））。
从13世纪初开始，指基督教行为中的故意贫困。从14世纪中叶开始引申为"缺乏，不足"； 指精神上的"谦卑"，源自福音书中的"八福"。
Seeing so much poverty everywhere makes me think that God is not rich. He gives the appearance of it, but I suspect some financial difficulties. [Victor Hugo, "Les Misérables," 1862]
到处都看到这么多贫困，让我觉得上帝并不富有。他表面上看起来是这样，但我怀疑他可能有一些经济困难。[维克多·雨果， "Les Misérables," 1862]
Poverty line "维持生活必需的最低收入"可追溯到1891年； poverty trap "收入增加被国家福利减少的情况"来自1966年； poverty-stricken "陷入贫困状态"可追溯到1778年。
Poverty is a strong word, stronger than being poor; want is still stronger, indicating that one has not even the necessaries of life ; indigence is often stronger than want, implying especially, also, the lack of those things to which one has been used and that befit one's station ; penury is poverty that is severe to abjectness ; destitution is the state of having absolutely nothing .... [Century Dictionary]
Poverty 是一个强烈的词，比 being poor 更强烈； want 更强烈，意味着连生活必需品都没有； indigence 通常比贫困更严重，尤其暗示了那些一个人习惯并适合自己身份的东西的缺乏； penury 是指贫困到极度悲惨的状态； destitution 是指完全一无所有的状态.... [世纪词典]
该词起源时间：12世纪末