beggar

[ beg-er ]

/ ˈbɛg ər /

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See synonyms for: beggar / beggared / beggaring on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who begs alms or lives by begging.

a penniless person.

a wretched fellow; rogue: the surly beggar who collects the rents.

a child or youngster (usually preceded by little): a sudden urge to hug the little beggar.

verb (used with object)

to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish: The family had been beggared by the war.

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

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Origin of beggar

First recorded in 1175–1225, beggar is from the Middle English word beggare, beggere. See beg¹, -er¹, -ar³

OTHER WORDS FROM beggar

beg·gar·hood, noun

Words nearby beggar

begats, beg, borrow, or steal, begem, beget, begets, beggar, beggar description, beggardom, beggarly, beggar-my-neighbor, beggar-my-neighbour

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use beggar in a sentence

Better to be a beggar in freedom,” he cried out, “than to be forced into compromises against my conscience.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, and all that.
Joseph Campbell on the Roots of Halloween|Joseph Campbell|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In an interview, Liang said, “Air should be the most valueless commodity, free to breathe for any vagrant or beggar.”
The Chinese Can’t Catch Their Breath|Brendon Hong|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The landays in I Am the Beggar of the World are sung only when men are absent.
Beauty and Subversion in the Secret Poems of Afghan Women|Daniel Bosch|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I am the Beggar of the World is a book of poems, war reportage, and photographs.
Beauty and Subversion in the Secret Poems of Afghan Women|Daniel Bosch|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He's a lucky beggar, Reginald, a very lucky beggar, and Warrender's daughter is more than he deserves.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
A beggar asking alms under the character of a poor scholar, a gentleman put the question, Quomodo vales?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Valence sent a woman, disguised as a beggar, to spy out the position; but Bruce saw through the dodge, and the spy confessed.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
If God put a beggar on horseback, would the horse be blamable for galloping to Monte Carlo?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
And on the same authority we find that there is the ghost of dirt, for the ghost of the old beggar-man was "dirty."
Second Edition of A Discovery Concerning Ghosts|George Cruikshank

British Dictionary definitions for beggar

beggar

/ (ˈbɛɡə) /

noun

a person who begs, esp one who lives by begging

a person who has no money or resources; pauper

ironic, jocular, mainly British fellowlucky beggar!

verb (tr)

to be beyond the resources of (esp in the phrase to beggar description)

to impoverish; reduce to begging

Derived forms of beggar

beggarhood or beggardom, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

beggar

Origin of beggar

OTHER WORDS FROM beggar

Words nearby beggar

Words related to beggar

How to use beggar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beggar

Derived forms of beggar