beggar
[ beg-er ]
/ ˈbɛg ər /
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noun
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of beggar
OTHER WORDS FROM beggar
beg·gar·hood, nounWords nearby beggar
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for beggar
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, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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