1.
[syn: indigence, need, penury, pauperism, pauperization]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Indigence \In"di*gence\, n. [L. indigentia: cf. F. indigence.
See Indigent.]
The condition of being indigent; lack of estate, or means of
comfortable subsistence; penury; poverty; as, helpless
indigence. --Cowper.
Syn: Poverty; penury; destitution; want; need; privation;
lack. See Poverty.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
indigence
n 1: a state of extreme poverty or destitution; "their indigence
appalled him"; "a general state of need exists among the
homeless" [syn: indigence, need, penury, pauperism,
pauperization]