A member of a lay religious community in medieval Europe, particularly in the Low Countries, living a communal life following religious principles without monastic vows.
From Old French 'beghard,' possibly from Middle Dutch 'beggert' or a personal name origin. The Beghards were 12th-13th century communities. Later 'beghard' transformed into 'beggar' in English.
Beghards were the original 'beggars'—pious communities living in poverty by choice, not necessity. Over time, the church suppressed them, and their name became synonymous with anyone poor, flipping the word from honorable to pitiful.
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