Men"di*can*cy (?), n. The condition of being mendicant; beggary;
begging. Burke.
Men"di*cant (?), a. [L. mendicans, -antis, p. pr. of mendicare to beg,
fr. mendicus beggar, indigent.] Practicing beggary; begging; living on
alms; as, mendicant friars.
Mendicant orders (R. C. Ch.), certain monastic orders which are
forbidden to acquire landed property and are required to be supported
by alms, esp. the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, and the
Augustinians.
Men"di*cant, n. A beggar; esp., one who makes a business of begging;
specifically, a begging friar.
Men"di*cate (?), v. t.& i. [L. mendicatus, p. p. of mendicare to beg.]
To beg. [R.] Johnson.
Men`di*ca"tion (?), n. The act or practice of begging; beggary;
mendicancy. Sir T. Browne.
Men*dic"i*ty (?), n. [L. mendicitas: cf. F. mendicité. See Mendicant.]
The practice of begging; the life of a beggar; mendicancy. Rom. of R.
Men"di*nant (?), n. A mendicant or begging friar. [Obs.] Chaucer.