| mendicant | Practicing beggary; begging; living on alms; as, mendicant friars. Mendicant orders, certain monastic orders which are forbidden to acquire landed property and are required to be supported by alms, especially. The Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, and the Augustinians. Origin: L. Mendicans, -antis, p. Pr. Of mendicare to beg, fr. Mendicus beggar, indigent. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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