beggar en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈbɛɡɚ/ (General-American)
- /ˈbɛɡə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English beggere, beggare, beggar (“beggar”), from Middle English beggen (“to beg”), equivalent to beg + -ar. Alternative etymology derives Middle English beggere, beggare, beggar from Old French begart, originally a member of the Beghards, a lay brotherhood of mendicants in the Low Countries, from Middle Dutch beggaert (“mendicant”), with pejorative suffix (see -ard); the order is said to be named after the priest Lambert le Bègue of Liège (French for “Lambert the Stammerer”).
Meanings
-
A person who begs.
“[…] They talk of you as if you were Croesus—and I expect the beggars sponge on you unconscionably.” And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes.
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:Odysseus has returned to his home disguised as a beggar.
1983, Stanley Rosen, Plato’s Sophist: The Drama of Original & Image, St. Augustine’s Press, page 62:
-
A person suffering from extreme poverty.
I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when I might be rolling in a coach!
1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
-
(colloquial, endearing, sometimes) A mean or wretched person; a scoundrel.
What does that silly beggar think he's doing?
The beggar seems to have known his business. All fine specimens of the best period.
1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
-
(UK) A minced oath for bugger.
Moreover, the pathing tool, which always has the potential to be a fussy little beggar, is especially uncooperative in career mode where there is a lot of bespoke geometry.
2025 February 14, Rick Lane, “Review: Planet Coaster 2”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, page 69; published online 1 November 2024:
- the last placer in Tycoon
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| begger | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| beggars | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
put the beggar on the gentleman (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggardom (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarlike (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · play silly beggars (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggars can't be choosers (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · couple-beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · Bedlam beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · buckle-beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggar-ticks (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · cyberbeggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarwoman (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · e-beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarman (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · set a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggar's-lice (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · sturdy beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · if wishes were horses, beggars would ride (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarly (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggaress (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggary (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · swamp beggar-ticks (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarweed (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggartick (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarliness (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarism (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarware (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarhood (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarer (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · kill-the-beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarwise (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · scare-beggar (Terms derived from beggar (noun)) · beggarsome (Terms derived from beggar (noun))
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
cyberbeggar · Tom of Bedlam's man · autem mort · Abraham man · God's minstrel · Tom of Bedlam · Bedlam beggar · walleteer · Poor Tom · palliard
Relateds
vagabond · set a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil · scrounger · pauper
Synonyms
enfant terrible · rogue · kindle-coal · spanger · undesirable · minx · tough · titivil · knave · cadger · bad guy · shit disturber · baddie · have not · hooligan · firebrand · hothead · hellraiser · bugger · wag · penny-father · initiator · Lazarus · tearaway · mumper · caird · miscreant · thug · hoolie · rapscallion · evildoer · rapscallion · boot boy · yob · bully · wrangler · beggar · hell-raiser · inciter · truant · scapegrace · palliard · practical joker · roly-poly · lout · devil · cockatrice · joker · clochard · cutup · bad boy · scamp · villain · rowdy · yobbo · booger · fustilarian · jokester · shit-stirrer · troublemaker · brawler · coistril · shitmonger · indigent · bankrupt · rantipole · pauper · hool · vandal · bovver boy · niding · blackguard · ruffian · almswoman · punk · wagpastie · puck · spanger · mendicant · rascal · prankster · charva · buffoon · scamp · rascal · almsman · hoodlum · schnorrer · bhoy · truant · Lazarus · scapegrace · cad · scab · makeshift · pot stirrer · miscreant · pixie · blackguard · lidderon · makebate · panhandler · breedbate · brat · heavy · nithing · varlet · bear · scoundrel · schnorrer · insolvent · mischief-maker · ne'er-do-well · vagabond · thug · rakeshame · rogue · pauper · mischief · lack-all · bad news · scum · jackanapes · rabble rouser · bounder · kindle-fire · ne'er-do-well · bastard · mendicant · harlot · beggar · rascal · poor · instigator · antimodel · agitator · knave · scumbag · elf · undesirable · imp · gadfly · beggar · beggar · scoundrel · scapegrace · panhandler · hood
Translations (269)
sh просја̀киња (person who begs) · ru бе́дная (person suffering poverty) · ko 거지 (person who begs) · ga sirtheoir (person who begs) · uk бідня́чка (person suffering poverty) · sv tiggerska (person who begs) · uz tilanchi (person who begs) · be жабра́к (person who begs) · sv bettlerska (person who begs) · el ζητιάνος (person who begs) · be бядня́к (person suffering poverty) · lo ຄົນຂໍທານ (person who begs) · nl bedelaarster (person who begs) · frr beedelmaan (person who begs) · tl pulubi (person who begs) · mr भिकारी (person who begs) · sk žobráčka (person who begs) · ca mendicant (person who begs) · mk питачка (person who begs) · cmn 小可憐 /小可怜 (colloquial: A mean or wretched person) · nrf pouqu'teux (person who begs) · fo biddari (person who begs) · th ยาจก (person suffering poverty) · za gaujvaq (person who begs) · pi याचक (person who begs) · es pordiosero (person who begs) · bn ভিক্ষুক (person who begs) · nl bedelaar (person who begs) · cmn 花子 (person who begs) · rsk жобрак (person who begs) · mk питачка (person suffering poverty) · cs chudačka (person suffering poverty) · rup zicljar (person who begs) · gl mendigo (person who begs) · sh про̏сја̄к (person who begs) · be бе́дная (person suffering poverty) · ru бедня́чка (person suffering poverty) · pt mendigo (person who begs) · bn ফকির (person who begs) · tl tanglo (person who begs) · es gallofero (person who begs) · rup tsiritor (person who begs) · got 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (person who begs) · vi ăn mày (person who begs) · sl berač (person who begs) · sv tiggare (person suffering poverty) · ko 걸개 (person who begs) · bg бедня́чка (person suffering poverty) · ka მათხოვარი (person who begs) · ba ярлы (person suffering poverty) · frr trögel (person who begs) · mk питач (person who begs) · cmn 乞丐 (person who begs) · rup pitaci (person who begs) · de Pracher (person who begs) · es limosnero (person who begs) · txb yaṣṣuca (person who begs) · gv jeirkagh (person who begs) · lv ubags (person who begs) · bg сиромахки́ня (person suffering poverty) · hi भिखमंगा (person who begs) · mt tallab (person who begs) · cs chudák (person suffering poverty) · kw beggyer (person who begs) · arz شحات (person who begs) · tyv диленчи (person who begs) · sh siromàšica (person suffering poverty) · shn ၵူၼ်းယွၼ်း (person who begs) · pdt Pracha (person who begs) · de Bettelweib (person who begs) · ta ஏழை (person suffering poverty) · ta பிச்சைக்காரன் (person who begs) · bal پکیر (person who begs) · my သူတောင်းစား (person who begs) · ru ни́щая (person suffering poverty) · mk просјачка (person suffering poverty) · sq lypës (person who begs) · de Bettlerin (person who begs) · fr gueux (person who begs) · pa ਮੰਗਤੀ (person who begs) · lv ubadze (person who begs) · be бядня́чка (person suffering poverty) · nl bedelaar (person suffering poverty) · rup tsiritonj (person who begs) · de Bettelschwester (person who begs) · vo lubegan (person who begs) · sh просја̀киња (person suffering poverty) · bg бедня́к (person suffering poverty) · bal فقیر (person who begs) · vo jilubegan (person who begs) · pl biedaczka (person suffering poverty) · ta பிச்சைக்காரர் (person who begs) · be бяда́к (person suffering poverty) · cs žebrák (person who begs) · gd baigear (person who begs) · pi yācaka (person who begs) · uk бі́дний (person suffering poverty) · vo hilubegan (person who begs) · ro cerșetor (person who begs) · et kerjus (person who begs) · fr mendiant (person who begs) · el επαίτης (person who begs) · de Bettelbruder (person who begs) · sh prosjàkinja (person suffering poverty) · bg про́сяк (person who begs) · nn tiggar (person who begs) · gl mendiga (person who begs) · eo almozisto (person who begs) · eo almozulino (person who begs) · es mendigo (person who begs) · uk бі́дна (person suffering poverty) · hu koldus (person who begs) · sh prosjàkinja (person who begs) · vo hilubeganef (person who begs) · az dilənçi (person who begs) · hi भिखारी (person who begs) · nl bedelares (person who begs) · pl biedak (person suffering poverty) · id pengemis (person who begs) · scn pòviru (person suffering poverty) · ur یاچَک (person who begs) · sh siròmāh (person suffering poverty) · ru бедня́к (person suffering poverty) · eo almozistino (person who begs) · izh kerrääläin (person who begs) · ru ни́щий (person suffering poverty) · fi köyhä (person suffering poverty) · he קַבּצָן (person who begs) · sh про̏сја̄к (person suffering poverty) · cmn 可憐蟲 /可怜虫 (colloquial: A mean or wretched person) · da tigger (person who begs) · cmn 叫花子 (person who begs) · grc ἐπαίτης (person who begs) · pt mendigo (person suffering poverty) · ru нищебро́дка (person suffering poverty) · la mendīcus (person who begs) · ro cerșetoare (person who begs) · mk просјачка (person who begs) · vo jilubeganef (person who begs) · da tiggerske (person who begs) · pt mendiga (person who begs) · uk сіро́ма (person suffering poverty) · bo སྤྲང་པོ (person who begs) · te బిచ్చగాడు (person who begs) · ur بِھکھاری (person who begs) · nrf bédgeux (person who begs) · uk жебра́к (person who begs) · sw mwombaji (person who begs) · be жабра́чка (person who begs) · grc προσαίτης (person who begs) · hi भिक्षुक (person who begs) · enm beggere (person suffering poverty) · sah умнаһыт (person who begs) · rom čororo (person suffering poverty) · pa ਮੰਗਤਾ (person who begs) · fr gueuse (person who begs) · fa-ira گِدا (person who begs) · vi bị gậy (person who begs) · pl żebraczka (person who begs) · th ขอทาน (person who begs) · scn mischinu (person suffering poverty) · sv tiggare (person who begs) · bal پنڈوک (person who begs) · scn addumannera (person who begs) · sl beračica (person who begs) · enm beggere (person who begs) · sv bettlare (person who begs) · uk сірома́ха (person suffering poverty) · ko 걸인 (person who begs) · vo lubeganef (person who begs) · ary طلاب (person who begs) · lt elgeta (person who begs) · ru попроша́йка (person who begs) · ga bacach (person who begs) · hy մուրացկան (person who begs) · sh prȍsjāk (person suffering poverty) · ur بِھکْشُک (person who begs) · cmn 窮人 /穷人 (person suffering poverty) · sh prȍsjāk (person who begs) · da betler (person who begs) · prs گَدَا (person who begs) · uk біда́к (person suffering poverty) · es mendigo (person suffering poverty) · pi ยาจก (person who begs) · acw فَقِير (person suffering poverty) · hi भिखारिन (person who begs) · ar فَقِير (person suffering poverty) · rup dicunjar (person who begs) · sw ombaomba (person who begs) · scn disgrazziatu (person suffering poverty) · de Bettler (person who begs) · ml ഭിക്ഷക്കാരൻ (person who begs) · ary سعاي (person who begs) · ru нищебро́д (person who begs) · scn addumanneri (person who begs) · es mendicante (person who begs) · tr dilenci (person who begs) · ba хәйерсе (person who begs) · mk питач (person suffering poverty) · lv ubags (person suffering poverty) · da betlerske (person who begs) · el ζητιάνα (person who begs) · acw شَحَّات (person who begs) · sh сиро̀ма̄х (person suffering poverty) · mk просјак (person who begs) · fr mendiante (person who begs) · ms pengemis (person who begs) · es indigente (person suffering poverty) · uk бідня́к (person suffering poverty) · de Bettelmann (person who begs) · uz gadoy (person who begs) · mk просјак (person suffering poverty) · nl haveloze (person suffering poverty) · izh kerrääjä (person who begs) · ur بِھکاری (person who begs) · th ขอทาน (person suffering poverty) · nb betler (person who begs) · nb tigger (person who begs) · vi ăn xin (person who begs) · frr beedler (person who begs) · it mendicante (person who begs) · km អ្នកសុំទាន (person who begs) · ast méndigu (person who begs) · is betlari (person who begs) · be бе́дны (person suffering poverty) · mn гуйлгачин (person who begs) · rup proseac (person who begs) · bg просяки́ня (person who begs) · uk жебра́чка (person who begs) · eo almozulo (person who begs) · ro sărac (person suffering poverty) · ru бе́дный (person suffering poverty) · pl żebrak (person who begs) · fi keppikerjäläinen (person suffering poverty) · bg сирома́х (person suffering poverty) · gl mendicante (person who begs) · cs žebračka (person who begs) · rom čororo (person who begs) · ja 乞食 (person who begs) · uk біда́чка (person suffering poverty) · nv adókeedí (person who begs) · rsk жобрачка (person who begs) · sk chudák (person suffering poverty) · srn begiman (person who begs) · nl armoedzaaier (person suffering poverty) · fr quêteuse (person who begs) · be бяда́чка (person suffering poverty) · zdj mmezi (person who begs) · sh сирома̀шица (person suffering poverty) · tg гадо (person who begs) · de Bettelfrau (person who begs) · sk žobrák (person who begs) · ca captaire (person who begs) · rup tsiripãni (person who begs) · cy achenog (person who begs) · ml യാചകൻ (person who begs) · is beiningamaður (person who begs) · ru ни́щенка (person suffering poverty) · ar سَائِل (person who begs) · hi याचक (person who begs) · ru нищебро́д (person suffering poverty) · de Pracherin (person who begs) · fr quêteux (person who begs) · es mendiga (person who begs) · pt pedinte (person who begs) · mnc ᡤᡳᠣᡥᠣᡨᠣ (person who begs) · te బిచ్చగత్తె (person who begs) · nb betlerske (person who begs) · fi kerjäläinen (person who begs)