Poorly preserved (4,2)
I believe the answer is:
laid up
This clue could be a double definition.
'poorly' is the first definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'preserved' is the second definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laid up that I've seen before include "being under the weather" , "Dicky" , "Bedridden" , "Injured" , "'Confined to bed (4,2)'" .)