First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1beggar
noun beg·gar \ˈbe-gər\
: a person who lives by begging for money, food, etc.
: a person who is regarded as lucky, unlucky, lazy, etc.
Full Definition of BEGGAR
1
: one that begs; especially : a person who lives by asking for gifts
2
: pauper
3
: fellow 4c
See beggar defined for English-language learners
See beggar defined for kids
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Origin of BEGGAR
Middle English beggere, beggare, from beggen to beg + -ere, -are 2-er
Related to BEGGAR
- Synonyms
- mendicant, panhandler
Rhymes with BEGGAR
2beggar
verb
: to make (someone or something) very poor
—used in the phrases beggar belief and beggar description to talk about something that is very difficult to believe or describe
beg·garedbeg·gar·ing \ˈbe-gə-riŋ\
Full Definition of BEGGAR
transitive verb
1
: to reduce to beggary
2
: to exceed the resources or abilities of : defy <beggars description> <so outrageous as to beggar belief>
See beggar defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BEGGAR
15th century
BEGGARED Defined for Kids
beggar
noun beg·gar \ˈbe-gər\
Definition of BEGGAR for Kids
: a person who lives by begging
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