beggary

noun

beg·​gary ˈbe-gə-rē How to pronounce beggary (audio)
1
2
: the class of beggars
3
: the practice of begging

Examples of beggary in a Sentence

too many people are homeless and living in shameful beggary in this country
Recent Examples on the Web Hence his need to construct an elaborate scheme of beggary that seems to have involved the bills being paid initially by the Cabinet office, then by the Conservative Party, then by a private donor, and finally, and only after the whole affair became a political embarrassment, by Johnson himself. Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 13 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beggary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beggary was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near beggary

Cite this Entry

“Beggary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beggary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beggary

noun
beg·​gary ˈbeg-(ə-)rē How to pronounce beggary (audio)
: extreme poverty
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