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beggar

 - 2 dictionary results

beg⋅gar

[beg-er]
–noun
1. a person who begs alms or lives by begging.
2. a penniless person.
3. a wretched fellow; rogue: the surly beggar who collects the rents.
4. a child or youngster (usually prec. by little): a sudden urge to hug the little beggar.
–verb (used with object)
5. to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish: The family had been beggared by the war.
6. to cause one's resources of or ability for (description, comparison, etc.) to seem poor or inadequate: The costume beggars description.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME beggare, beggere. See beg 1 , -er 1 , -ar 3


beg⋅gar⋅hood, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To beggar
beg·gar   (běg'ər)   
n.  
  1. One who solicits alms for a living.

  2. An impoverished person; a pauper.

  3. Informal A man or a boy.

tr.v.   beg·gared, beg·gar·ing, beg·gars
  1. To make a beggar of; impoverish.

  2. To exceed the limits, resources, or capabilities of: beauty that beggars description.


[Middle English, from Old French begart, ultimately from Middle Dutch beggaert, one who rattles off prayers.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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