beggar the question

English

Etymology

By alteration of beg the question.

Verb

beggar the question (third-person singular simple present beggars the question, present participle beggaring the question, simple past and past participle beggared the question)

1. To beg the question.
   • 1964, Hearings of the Special Subcommittee on Construction of Military Hospital Facilities of the Committee on Armed Services, No. 64, United States Congress, p. 9823.

     So this could and can be done but, of course, that beggars the question of putting these people on the civilian economy.

   • 1997, Issy Pilowsky, Abnormal Illness Behaviour, John Wiley, pages 16–17:

     Unfortunately, this definition beggars the question because we are left not knowing what it is that allows access to the sick role, but prefer not to seek it.

Usage notes

• Uses of the term reflect all senses of beg the question, including the proscribed ones.