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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Indigence

Indigence \In"di*gence\, n. [L. indigentia: cf. F. indigence. See Indigent.] The condition of being indigent; lack of estate, or means of comfortable subsistence; penury; poverty; as, helpless indigence.
--Cowper.

Syn: Poverty; penury; destitution; want; need; privation; lack. See Poverty.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
indigence

late 14c., from Old French indigence "indigence, need, privation" (13c.), from Latin indigentia "need, want; insatiable desire," from indigentem (nominative indigens), present participle of indigere "to need," from indu "in, within" + egere "be in need, want," from PIE *eg- "to lack" (cognates: Old Norse ekla "want, lack," Old High German eccherode "thin, weak").

Wiktionary
indigence

n. extreme poverty or destitution

WordNet
indigence

n. a state of extreme poverty or destitution; "their indigence appalled him"; "a general state of need exists among the homeless" [syn: need, penury, beggary, pauperism, pauperization]

Usage examples of "indigence".

Maugree thyn heed thou most for indigence Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!

Roussel combatted the suggestion that the family of Castaing were in a state of indigence.

So that their thoughts were now employed in concerting a scheme for his future subsistence, that he might not be exposed by indigence to a relapse in point of morals.

Their popular election endeared them to the Romans: the public and private indigence was relieved by their ample revenue.