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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

indigence en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈɪndɪd͡ʒəns/
  • (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English indigence, late 14th century, from Old French indigence (13th century), from Latin indigentia, from indigentem, form of indigēre (“to need”), from indu (“in, within”) + egēre (“be in need, want”). Only relation to antonym affluence is common Latinate suffix + -ence.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) Extreme poverty or destitution.
    • On Professor Solanka’s street, well-heeled white youths lounged in baggy garments on roseate stoops, stylishly simulating indigence while they waited for the billionairedom that would surely be along sometime soon. 2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 4:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
indigences Number=Plur lexicographic

Antonyms

affluence

Relateds

indigent

Synonyms

indigency

Translations (19)

fr indigence (poverty) · el πενία (poverty) · es indigencia (poverty) · el ένδεια (poverty) · uk біднота́ (poverty) · es inopia (poverty) · bg сиромашия (poverty) · ru нужда́ (poverty) · ota یوقسوللق (poverty) · sw ufukara (poverty) · fi varattomuus (poverty) · tr yoksulluk (poverty) · nl behoeftigheid (poverty) · it indigenza (poverty) · la indigentia (poverty) · ru бе́дность (poverty) · bg бедност (poverty) · tr fukaralık (poverty) · pt indigência (poverty)