mendicant

English

WOTD - 10 July 2008    

Etymology

From Latin mendīcāns, present participle of mendīcō (“beg”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈmɛn.dɪ.kənt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

mendicant (not comparable)

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.

Translations

depending on alms

Finnish: kerjäläis- (fi) German: Bettel- (de) Latin: mendīcāns (la)

Polish: żebrzący Russian: нищенствующий (ru) Spanish: mendicante (es)

or or pertaining to a beggar

Finnish: kerjäläis- (fi)

Russian: нищенский (ru)

or or pertaining to a member of a religious order who begs

Finnish: kerjäläis- (fi)

Spanish: mendicante (es)

Noun

mendicant (plural mendicants)

1. A beggar.
2. A religious friar forbidden to own personal property who begs for a living.

Translations

beggar

Crimean Tatar: tilençi Finnish: kerjäläinen (fi) German: Bettler (de) m. Italian: mendicante (it)

Polish: żebrak (pl) Portuguese: mendigo (pt) Russian: нищий (ru), попрошайка (ru) Spanish: mendigo (es) m.

friar

Finnish: kerjäläismunkki (fi) German: Bettelmönch Manx: braar boght (gv) m.

Polish: mnich żebrzący Russian: нищенствующий монах (ru) m.

Related terms

• mendicant order

---

Latin

Verb

mendīcant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of mendīcō