mendicant Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Men"di*cant adjective
Etymology
L. mendicans, -antis, p. pr. of mendicare to beg, fr. mendicus beggar, indigent.
Definitions
  1. Practicing beggary; begging; living on alms; as, mendicant friars.
Men"di*cant noun
Definitions
  1. A beggar; esp., one who makes a business of begging; specifically, a begging friar.

Webster 1913