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

Other Word Forms

• beggarliness noun
• unbeggarly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beggarly¹

First recorded in 1520–30; beggar + -ly

Example Sentences

Unsure whether he had been duped, he sent Francis a beggarly email: “I was wondering if you have reached a decision on my Shedd Bailout/Rescue Loan proposal.”

From Washington Post

The left accuses him of wanting to return Britain to the beggarly 1930s, a claim Mr Osborne rebuts vigorously enough to suggest it stings.

From Economist

So few assistants, so pitiably few customers, such a beggarly array of goods!

From Project Gutenberg

After all, he had other things to mind than a piece of beggarly waste land dotted with Chapels that were a blasphemy of the name of beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

We shall not get any before next January, and then only a beggarly hundred or so.

From Project Gutenberg