Hypertext Webster Gateway: "beggar"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Beggar \Beg"gar\, n. [OE. beggere, fr. beg.]
1. One who begs; one who asks or entreats earnestly, or with
humility; a petitioner.
2. One who makes it his business to ask alms.
3. One who is dependent upon others for support; -- a
contemptuous or sarcastic use.
4. One who assumes in argument what he does not prove. --Abp.
Tillotson.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. To cause to seem very poor and inadequate.
It beggared all description. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
beggar
n : a pauper who lives by begging [syn: {mendicant}]
v 1: be beyond the resources of; "This beggars description!"
2: reduce to beggary [syn: {pauperize}]
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