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beggar
The definition of a beggar is a person who asks people for money or gifts to sustain himself, or is a person who is extremely poor.
(noun)- An example of a beggar is someone who stands on the street corner with a sign asking for money.
- An example of a beggar is a homeless person.
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See beggar in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a person who begs, or asks for charity, esp. one who lives by begging; mendicant
- a person who is very poor; pauper
- Chiefly Brit. a person; fellow: often used jokingly or affectionately
Origin: ME beggere < OFr begard: see beg
transitive verb
- to make a beggar of; make poor
- to make seem inadequate or useless: her beauty beggars description
Related Forms:
- beggardom noun
See beggar in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- One who solicits alms for a living.
- An impoverished person; a pauper.
- Informal A man or a boy.
- To make a beggar of; impoverish.
- To exceed the limits, resources, or capabilities of: beauty that beggars description.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French begart
Origin: , ultimately from Middle Dutch beggaert, one who rattles off prayers
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