mendicant
UK: ˈmɛndɪkənt | US: ˈmɛndɪkənt
n. a beggar, especially one who relies on charity for survival
adj. living by begging; dependent on alms
mendicant = mend<to beg> + icant<adjective suffix>
- mend<to beg>: Derived from Latin mendicare ("to beg"), from mendicus ("beggar"). The root reflects the act of pleading or asking for alms.
- icant<adjective suffix>: A Latin-derived suffix indicating a state or quality (e.g., significant). Here, it forms an adjective meaning "engaged in begging."
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin mendicus ("beggar"), likely linked to mendum ("fault" or "defect"), metaphorically implying a person in need due to lack. Over time, mendicare ("to beg") evolved into Old French mendier, later entering English as mendicant—retaining its core association with begging, often in religious contexts (e.g., mendicant monks who vow poverty).
The mendicant monk traveled from village to village, relying on the kindness of strangers.
In medieval cities, mendicants gathered near churches to seek alms.
Her mendicant lifestyle contrasted sharply with her former wealth.
The law prohibited mendicants from begging in the marketplace.
He wrote a novel about a mendicant poet wandering the countryside.