Present participle of beg; asking for money, food, or favors from others, typically as a form of charity. Also means earnestly requesting or pleading for something.
From Middle English 'beggen,' possibly from Old English 'bedecian' meaning to pray or worship. The connection between religious petition and asking for alms reflects the historical role of churches and monasteries in caring for the poor.
The phrase 'begging the question' is often misused—it doesn't mean 'raising the question' but rather describes a logical fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premise. This centuries-old confusion shows how specialized terms inevitably drift into broader, often incorrect, popular usage.
Feminized in 16th-19th centuries; depictions of beggars coded as female weakness, infantilized need, and moral failing tied to women's economic dependence and lack of agency.
Use neutrally when describing material need or urgent request; avoid feminized pity-framing.
["requesting","appealing","asking urgently"]
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