shabby

adjective

1. 1

   Of clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect; scruffy.

   They lived in a tiny apartment, with some old, shabby furniture.

   [A]s there was a stream of people pouring into a shabby house not far from the entrance, he waited until they had made their way in, […]

   [C]ommonplace books are generally new, or at least in fine bindings. And here was a shabby little old book, such as, if it had been commonplace, would not have been likely to be the companion of a young lady at the bottom of a quarry— […]

   [They] lived […] in one of the shabbiest streets in the debatable land between Pimlico and Chelsea—by courtesy, South Belgravia.

2. 2

   Of a person: wearing ragged or very worn, and often dirty, clothing.

   The fellow arrived looking rather shabby after journeying so far.

   The ſame gentleman, vvhenever he vvanted credit for a ſuit of cloaths, alvvays made the propoſal in a laced coat; for he found by experience, that, if he appeared ſhabby on theſe occaſions, his taylor had taken an oath againſt truſting; […]

   She told her name, and vvas ſhevvn, by a little ſhabby foot-boy, into a parlour.

   He was an affectionate brother, always glad to do a good turn to his sisters—who lived with a shabby old half-pay father, […]

3. 3

   figurativeOf a person, their behaviour, etc.: despicable, mean; also, not generous; stingy, tight-fisted.

   shabby treatment

   "A thousand dollars are money, my father used to say when he drove fat oxen to market," replied John Wilde, in a mocking tone; "but it will not leave my hands for that shabby price; and, for my own part, it may ornament the foot of my daughter's doll."

   It was voted a shabby excuse.

   I, being more of a native, and familiar with their customs, knew that this shabby present was an insult to us.

4. 4

   figurativePoor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent.

   His painting is not too shabby.

   [M]y Lord Duke's entertainments were both ſeldom and ſhabby […]

   So unlooked-for a paradox required to be defended by the strongest arguments: who, then, would expect such shabby, not arguments, but hints of arguments, as the author presents us with?

5. 5

   archaicPoor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. Of the pulse: thready, weak.

6. 6

   figurativePoor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. Of weather: wet and dreary.

7. 7

   figurativePoor in quality; also, showing little effort or talent. Chiefly of sheep: affected by shab or scab (“a skin disease”); scabby.

verb

1. 1

   To make (something) shabby (adjective sense 1); to shabbify.

2. 2

   To become shabby; to shabbify.

   You'll be one of those tough, square, solid middle-aged men, like a shabbying brown bear, your golden crew-cut greying judiciously at the temples.

Forms

comparative

shabbier

superlative

shabbiest

past tense

shabbied

past participle

shabbied

present participle

shabbying

third person singular

shabbies