beggar

[ beg-er ]

noun

1. a person who begs beg alms or lives by begging. beg.
2. a penniless person.
3. a wretched fellow; rogue:

   the surly beggar who collects the rents.

4. a child or youngster (usually preceded by little ):

   a sudden urge to hug the little beggar.

verb (used with object)

1. to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish:

   The family had been beggared by the war.

2. to cause one's resources of or ability for (description, comparison, etc.) to seem poor or inadequate:

   The costume beggars description.

beggar

/ ˈbɛɡə /

noun

1. a person who begs, esp one who lives by begging
2. a person who has no money or resources; pauper
3. ironic.
   fellow

   lucky beggar!

verb

1. to be beyond the resources of (esp in the phrase to beggar description )
2. to impoverish; reduce to begging

Derived Forms

• ˈbeggarˌhood, noun

Other Words From

• beggar·hood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beggar¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, beggar is from the Middle English word beggare, beggere. See beg ¹, -er ¹, -ar ³

Example Sentences

Because the only disabled people I saw in the movies were either blind beggars or blind singers.

From Washington Blade

Penelope, whose constancy Odysseus put to the test by disguising himself as a beggar when he returned home after long years away at war, ultimately demonstrated her steadfastness to her husband’s satisfaction.

From Time

They’re endearing, dopey, shameless beggars who can appease even the most cantankerous souls.

From Popular-Science

If you rely on SNAP benefits or food pantries or free fridges for your food, the message is that it’s your fault, and that “beggars can’t be choosers.”

From Eater

Better to be a beggar in freedom,” he cried out, “than to be forced into compromises against my conscience.

From The Daily Beast

Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, and all that.

From The Daily Beast

In an interview, Liang said, “Air should be the most valueless commodity, free to breathe for any vagrant or beggar.”

From The Daily Beast

The landays in I Am the Beggar of the World are sung only when men are absent.

From The Daily Beast

I am the Beggar of the World is a book of poems, war reportage, and photographs.

From The Daily Beast

He's a lucky beggar, Reginald, a very lucky beggar, and Warrender's daughter is more than he deserves.

From Project Gutenberg

A beggar asking alms under the character of a poor scholar, a gentleman put the question, Quomodo vales?

From Project Gutenberg

Valence sent a woman, disguised as a beggar, to spy out the position; but Bruce saw through the dodge, and the spy confessed.

From Project Gutenberg

If God put a beggar on horseback, would the horse be blamable for galloping to Monte Carlo?

From Project Gutenberg

And on the same authority we find that there is the ghost of dirt, for the ghost of the old beggar-man was "dirty."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bum
• panhandler
• vagabond