Miserable, friend on trial (6)
I believe the answer is:
paltry
'miserable' is the definition.
('paltry' can be a synonym of 'miserable')
'friend on trial' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal is a kind of friend).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'trial' becomes 'try'.
'pal'+'try'='PALTRY'
(Other definitions for paltry that I've seen before include "Small and mean" , "Measly, trifling" , "Worthless or trivial" , "Petty - base" , "Trival, Inconsequential" .)