Forms: 4 beggeri, begry(e, 4–6 beggerye, 4–7 -erie, 6 -arie, 6–7 -ery, 6– beggary. [f. BEGGAR + -Y3.]
1. The state or condition of a beggar; extreme poverty. Also fig.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. VII. 88. The boke banneth beggarie [v.r. beggerie, beggerye].
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 7. Adulterie bringeth a man to … beggerie, and vtter destruction.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 10. One that promist nought But beggery, and poore lookes.
1681. Baxter, Apol. Nonconf. Min., 58. [They] drank themselves into beggery.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 58. This coin … will reduce the kingdom to beggary.
1841. Borrow, Zincali, I. 242. Passing their days in beggary and nakedness.
† 2. The action or habit of begging; the beggar’s trade, mendicancy. Obs.
1608. Dekker, Belman Lond., Wks. 1885, III. 88. An Oration in praise of Beggerie, and of those that professe the Trade.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. x. 139. We must be carefull that our charity do not minister to idlenesse and the love of beggery.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 19. Witnesse the dayly Beggaries, and nightly Robberies throughout the Land.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 176. Beggary is become an art or mystery, to which children are brought up from their cradles.
3. concr. The profession or class of beggars; a place where beggars live.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XVIII. 147. Not presume to be Lord of the guests or of the beggary.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. i. 195. Scoffing thus At the white head of hunger’d beggary?
a. 1834. Lamb, Sir J. Dunstan, Misc. Wks. (1871), 391. A burial alive in the fetid beggaries of Bethnal.
† 4. Beggarliness; contemptible meanness. Obs.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 117. Not I … pronounce The Beggery of his change.
1629. Ford, Lover’s Mel., I. ii. (1811), 132. So do thy knavery and desperate beggary.
† 5. Beggarly stuff, rubbish; ‘beggarly elements.’ Obs.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1674. Of yow God doth axe no soch vayne beggerye.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M., III. 319. Your Ceremonies in the Church be beggary and poyson.
1641. Milton, Ch. Discip., Wks. 1738, I. 1. The Jewish beggary of old cast Rudiments.
1644. T. Fary, God’s Severity (1645), 9. The briars and beggery that growes about it.
† 6. Begging of the question. Obs.
a. 1603. T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 448. Where … you conclude authoritie to forgiue temporall punishment, your beggary is too shamelesse.
