indigent

in·di·gent  (nd-jnt)

adj.

1. Experiencing want or need; impoverished. See Synonyms at poor.

2. Archaic Lacking or deficient.

n.

A needy or destitute person.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin indigns, indigent-, present participle of indigre, to need : indu-, in; see en in Indo-European roots + egre, to lack.]

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indi·gent·ly adv.

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indigent

Adjective

Formal so poor as to lack even necessities: the indigent widow of a fellow writer [Latin indigere to need]

indigence n

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

indigent - poor enough to need help from others destitute, impoverished, necessitous, needy, poverty-stricken poor - having little money or few possessions; "deplored the gap between rich and poor countries"; "the proverbial poor artist living in a garret"

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indigent

adjective (Formal) destitute, poor, impoverished, needy, penniless, poverty-stricken, down and out, in want, down at heel (informal) impecunious, dirt-poor, straitened, on the breadline, short, flat broke (informal) penurious, necessitous << OPPOSITE wealthy