beggarly

[ beg-er-lee ]

adjective

1. like or befitting a beggar.
2. meanly inadequate:

   How does he manage on such a beggarly salary?

beggarly

/ ˈbɛɡəlɪ /

adjective

1. meanly inadequate; very poor

   beggarly living conditions

Derived Forms

• ˈbeggarliness, noun

Other Words From

• beggar·li·ness noun
• un·beggar·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beggarly¹

First recorded in 1520–30; beggar + -ly

Example Sentences

I say, down with the aristocracy, the beggarly British aristocracy.

From Project Gutenberg

Imagine a beggarly girl in an office daring to address such criticism to the great Mr. Lang!

From Project Gutenberg

And turning to the man confronting me, he added, "This gentleman will settle their beggarly accounts."

From Project Gutenberg

The money he saves in his damned beggarly court goes to buy men's souls.

From Project Gutenberg

Why should ladies demean themselves by going amongst dirty beggarly folk?

From Project Gutenberg