mendicant

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms
  2. noun a pauper who lives by begging
  3. adjective practicing beggary

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

friar

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