mendicant
adjective/noun
Living by begging; relating to religious orders whose members beg for sustenance. As a noun, a beggar or a member of such an order.
Etymology
From Latin "mendicans," present participle of "mendicare" (to beg), from "mendicus" (beggar), related to "mendum" (physical defect).
Examples in Use
- 1.
"Mendicant friars traveled from town to town, preaching."
- 2.
"The city struggled to address its mendicant population."
- 3.
"St. Francis founded a mendicant order committed to poverty."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Franciscan and Dominican orders are "mendicant" because members renounced property and lived by begging. This radical poverty was meant to imitate Christ and contrast with the Church's institutional wealth.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (M, E, N, D, I, C, A, N, T)
Scrabble Value: 14 points
Tip: Words ending in "NT" are often good scoring opportunities.
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