beggar

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: mendicantpauperizepauperise

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a pauper who lives by beggingSynonyms: mendicant

Verb (2)

  1. be beyond the resources of“This beggars description!”
  2. reduce to beggarySynonyms: pauperizepauperise
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Beggar \Beg"gar\, n. [OE. beggere, fr. beg.]

1.One who begs; one who asks or entreats earnestly, or with humility; a petitioner. [1913 Webster]

2.One who makes it his business to ask alms. [1913 Webster]

3.One who is dependent upon others for support; -- a contemptuous or sarcastic use. [1913 Webster]

4.One who assumes in argument what he does not prove. --Abp. Tillotson. [1913 Webster]

Beggar \Beg"gar\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beggared; p. pr. & vb. n. Beggaring.]

1.To reduce to beggary; to impoverish; as, he had beggared himself. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2.To cause to seem very poor and inadequate. [1913 Webster]

It beggared all description.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

BEGGAR, n. One who has relied on the assistance of his friends.
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