World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesMendicant
/ˈmɛn.dɪ.kənt/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A beggar; a person who lives by asking for financial or material charity.
"The historic cathedral steps were often gathered with mendicants seeking alms from passing pilgrims." - 2
A member of a religious order, such as the Franciscans or Dominicans, that renounces property and relies on charity for livelihood.
"The medieval friar traveled across Europe as a mendicant, preaching and depending entirely on the generosity of local communities."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'mendicant-', stem of 'mendicans', present participle of 'mendicare' meaning 'to beg'. It entered the English language in the 15th century via Old French, initially referring specifically to members of religious orders who relied on charity, before broadening to describe anyone who practices begging.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Mendicant" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
mendiant
Transliteration: /mɑ̃.djɑ̃/
"Le mendiant tendait la main pour obtenir un peu de monnaie."
Bettler
Transliteration: /ˈbɛt.lɐ/
"Der Bettler bat die Passanten um eine kleine Spende."
mendicante
Transliteration: /men.diˈkan.te/
"Un vecchio mendicante sedeva fuori dalla chiesa."
mendicante
Transliteration: /men.diˈkan.te/
"El mendicante agradeció la comida que le ofrecieron."
mendigo
Transliteration: /ˈmẽ.dʒi.gu/
"O mendigo pedia ajuda aos transeuntes na praça."
भिकारी
Transliteration: bhikhari
"सड़क के किनारे एक भिकारी बैठा था।"
化缘者
Transliteration: huà yuán zhě
"修道士作为化缘者四处游历传道。"
탁발승
Transliteration: takbalsung
"그 탁발승은 동네를 돌며 시주를 받았다."
乞食
Transliteration: jikijiki / kojiki
"彼は修道士としての乞食の生活を選んだ。"
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