Beggaring

/ˈbɛɡərɪŋ/ verb

Definition

The act of reducing to poverty or making destitute; impoverishing or exhausting someone's resources.

Etymology

From 'beggar' (Middle Dutch 'begaerd,' member of a begging sect) plus '-ing' suffix. As a verb, 'beggar' means to make poor or reduce to beggary, so 'beggaring' describes this process.

Kelly Says

The phrase 'beggars belief' shows this word's power—beggaring doesn't just make someone poor financially, it can exhaust your credibility or resources so completely that belief itself seems impossible.

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