pauper

Where does the word "pauper" come from? It comes from Latin pauper, and was adopted directly into English (1510s).

Pauper’s story begins in Latin: pauper meant “poor.” Poor; the root of 'poverty' and 'poor'. It reached English by 1510s as pauper. From the legal phrase 'in forma pauperis', letting the poor sue without paying court fees. Today, pauper means a very poor person.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pauper "poor", poor; the root of 'poverty' and 'poor'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1510s pauper "poor person", from the legal phrase 'in forma pauperis', letting the poor sue without paying court fees.