indigent
/ˈɪndɪdʒənt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
indigere — to need, to be in want of
Overview
Meaning Now
- Lacking the necessities of life; impoverished or destitute.
- Lacking something specific; deficient or needy.
Literal older meaning
needing or wanting (from Latin indīgens)
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
indigent
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The term emerged in English during the 15th century, derived from the Latin 'indigēns', which focuses on the state of lacking essential resources. It is frequently used in formal or legal contexts to describe individuals without means of support.
Evolution
- Latin
indigēre
“to need or lack”
- Latin
indigēns
“needing, lacking”
Present participle of indigēre
- Middle French
indigent
“needy, destitute”
- English
indigent
“destitute, poverty-stricken”
Connections
Word parts
in-
prefix
in/into
egēre
root
to want/lack
Related across languages
French
destitute
Spanish
indigente
homeless or very poor person
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.