beggarly

B3E1G2G2A1R1L1Y4

adjective

In the manner of a beggar; poverty-stricken; mean; poor; contemptible.

“beggarly rags”

Similar
meanpoorstingyungenerous
OriginMiddle English beggarly →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

adjectivebeggarly (comparative beggarlier, superlative beggarliest)

comparative beggarlier · superlative beggarliest

  1. In the manner of a beggar; poverty-stricken; mean; poor; contemptible.

    beggarly fellow

  2. Fit for a beggar; occasioned by begging.

    beggarly rags

    1 more example

    Beggarly sins, that is, those sins which idleness and beggary usually betray men to; such as lying, flattery, stealing, and dissimulation.

    1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC
  3. broadlyinadequate or meagre.
adverbbeggarly (comparative more beggarly, superlative most beggarly)

comparative more beggarly · superlative most beggarly

  1. In an indigent, mean, or despicable manner; in the manner of a beggar.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivemarked by poverty befitting a beggar

Similar
meanpoor

adjective(used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt

Similar
meanstingyungenerous
Also see
abjectbankruptbasebeggarlikebrokebrokencarrionclose to the bonecontemptiblederisibledespicabledestituteemptyhandedgoodlesshard upignominiousimpoverishedindigentingloriouslaughablemeanmiserablemoneylessmurrainpaltrypatheticpennilesspenuriouspissasspoorpoor as a church mousepoverty-strickenpunkreprehensiblereprehensivereptilianscabbedscandalousscummyscurvyshitskintstingystonystuckthreadbareungenerousungloriouswoefulwretched

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishbeggarly
  2. Englishbeggarly

From beggar + -ly; adverb via Middle English beggarly, beggerly.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Baggerly
Cite this entry
APA

beggarly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beggarly

MLA

“beggarly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beggarly. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beggarly,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beggarly.

Source: beggarly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.