mendīcus, a, um, adj., beggarly, needy, in want, indigent (class.).
I Lit.: paupertas si malum est, mendicus esse beatus nemo potest, Cic. Fin. 5, 28, 84; cf.: solos sapientes esse, si mendicissimi (sint), divites, id. Mur. 29, 61: mendicior, Tert. de Anim. 33: prandia, Mart. 14, 81.—As subst.: mendīcus , i, m., a beggar, mendicant : mendicum malim mendicando vincere, Quam, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 3, 4, 16: mendici, i. e. the priests of Cybele , Hor. S. 1, 2, 2.—As a term of abuse, a beggar, ragamuffin , Ter. And. 815.—
II Transf., in gen., poor, paltry, mean, sorry, pitiful : instrumentum mendicum, Cic. de Or. 3, 24, 92.—Hence, adv.: mendīcē , in a beggarly manner, meanly (post-Aug. and post-class.): non tam mendice tecum agam, sed plenā manu, Sen. Ep. 33, 6.— Comp. : ne mendicius patre coenaret, Tert. Pall. 5.