English Explanatory Dictionary

mendicant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Depending on alms for a living.
  2. Of or pertaining to a beggar.
  3. Of or pertaining to a member of a religious order forbidden to own property, and who must beg for a living.
noun
  1. A pauper who lives by begging.
  2. A religious friar, forbidden to own personal property, who begs for a living.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɛn.dɪ.kənt/ en-us-mendicant.ogg

Word forms

mendicant mendicants

Etymology

From Middle English mendicant, from Latin mendīcāns, present participle of mendīcō (“beg”). Compare French mendiant.

Derived words

mendicancy mendicant order
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