Regarding the 10/20/09 word Mendicant, meaning beggar and also referring to four Catholic monastic orders. Mendicant (alternative Mendiant) is also the name of a small disk or bar of chocolate which has been sprinkled with dried fruit or nuts. In France, chocolate mendicants are part of the 13 desserts of Noel. From http://chocolateandzucchini.com: "Among these are the four "mendiants" (beggars), symbolizing four mendicant monastic orders and the color of their robes: raisins for the Dominicans, hazelnuts for the Augustins, dried figs for the Franciscans, and almonds for the Carmelites."
I am interested in the relationship between three words: Mendicant, Mendiant, Mendinant. The candy is called variously Mendicant or Mendiant. Both words are used in a Wikipedia definition: "A mendiant is a traditional French confection...representing the four mendicant or monastic orders." When I search the definition for Mendiant, I am sent to Mendinant, which is defined in Webster's as "a mendicant, or begging friar."
Can someone explain the difference between these three words to me? I am particularly interested in whether the candy is most properly known as Mendicant or Mendiant.

It seems Mendiant or Mendinant is a more obscure form.My dictionary has a footnote for Chaucer. Mendicant seems the more popular form. It is fitting they use this word for candy confections associated with Christmas especially since they contain chocolate which around my house probably would leave the kids begging for more.

Hmm! Yummy :
mendiants

Don't know much about candy, but it seems delicious here.
I don't see the Benedictines mentioned here, however, and they
pre-existed the others.
The Basilians are sometimes included as one of the five
original orders.