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A.Word.A.Day--indigent indigent (IN-di-juhnt) adjective Lacking necessities of life, such as food, clothing, etc.; impoverished. noun A person who is extremely poor. [From Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin indigent- (stem of indigens), present participle of indigere (to lack in), from indu (in-) + egere (to lack, to need).] "The most indigent families can't even afford to keep their children in school because they do not have the $10 per term to pay supplemental fees." Seth Kaplan; China's Boom Leaves Many Behind; International Herald Tribune (Paris, France); Mar 26, 2004. "The UPU president-general expressed delight at Marwa's decision to grant scholarships to indigent students in the region and said it was a welcome gesture." Okumagba Commends Marwa; This Day (Lagos, Nigeria); Apr 12, 2004. This week's theme: miscellaneous words. X-Bonus You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame. -Erica Jong, writer (1942- )

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