beggar

[ beg-er ]
/ ˈbɛg ər /

noun

a person who begs alms or lives by begging.
a penniless person.
a wretched fellow; rogue: the surly beggar who collects the rents.
a child or youngster (usually preceded by little): a sudden urge to hug the little beggar.

verb (used with object)

to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish: The family had been beggared by the war.
to cause one's resources of or ability for (description, comparison, etc.) to seem poor or inadequate: The costume beggars description.

Origin of beggar

First recorded in 1175–1225, beggar is from the Middle English word beggare, beggere. See beg1, -er1, -ar3

OTHER WORDS FROM beggar

beg·gar·hood, noun

Example sentences from the Web for beggar

British Dictionary definitions for beggar

beggar
/ (ˈbɛɡə) /

noun

a person who begs, esp one who lives by begging
a person who has no money or resources; pauper
ironic, jocular, mainly British fellow lucky beggar!

verb (tr)

to be beyond the resources of (esp in the phrase to beggar description)
to impoverish; reduce to begging

Derived forms of beggar

beggarhood or beggardom, noun