mendicancy

men·di·cant  (mnd-knt)

adj.

Depending on alms for a living; practicing begging.

n.

1. A beggar.

2. A member of an order of friars forbidden to own property in common, who work or beg for their living.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin mendcns, mendcant-, present participle of mendcre, to beg, from mendcus, needy, beggar, from mendum, physical defect.]

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mendi·can·cy, men·dici·ty (-ds-t) n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mendicancy - the state of being a beggar or mendicant; "they were reduced to mendicancy" mendicity, beggary indigence, pauperism, pauperization, penury, need - a state of extreme poverty or destitution; "their indigence appalled him"; "a general state of need exists among the homeless"
	2.	mendicancy - a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person) beggary, begging solicitation - an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status; "a solicitation to the king for relief"

Translations

mendicancy [ˈmendɪkənsɪ] N → mendicidad f