mendier

to beg

verb mahn-DYAY Rare

Origin: Latin 'mendicare'

Usage Note

Mendier means to beg for money or food and can also be used figuratively for soliciting affection or approval (mendier un compliment — to fish for a compliment). The noun is mendiant ('beggar'), and mendicité is 'begging, mendicancy'.

Examples

"Il mendiait quelques pièces devant la gare."

Natural Translation

He was begging for a few coins in front of the station.

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