Now the the Pontes Books versions of The Prince and the Pauper have officially been released (see our previous post for more information regarding the books and their release), we will begin posting blogs/videos twice a week to support people reading this text. We begin with the Chapter 1 vocabulary word which is…
PAUPER!
Yes, it may seem like the obvious choice, but as high frequency words go in the novel, pauper is obviously among the highest repeated. In addition, this word does not show up frequently enough for all English speakers to be familiar with it, yet it shows up enough, especially in Classical texts, that it is certainly worthwhile to learn. Lastly, this word is absoultely essential to understanding Chapter 1, and the entirety of the book, of The Prince and the Pauper.
It is our hope that even though many people may already be familiar with this word, that the following video and/or the remainder of the post provides you with some new information about the word ‘pauper’. Enjoy!
Pauper
| DEFINITION (n) a very poor person | FACTS/CHARACTERISTICS poor shabby appearance |
| EXAMPLES beggar homeless person have-not | NON-EXAMPLES king/queen/prince(ss) millionaire rich person |
Etymology
- Language of Origin: Latin
- “pauper” meaning poor, not wealthy, of small means
- “in forma pauperis” meaning in the form of a poor person
Sentences/Additional Forms
- Straightforward sentence: We passed the pauper, dressed in rags, while walking through the town square.
- Sentence from the chapter: “…Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags…among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.” (p. 2)
- Other forms: paupers, pauperism (n.)
Fun Fact
In the world of Magic: the Gathering, there is a version of gameplay referred to as “pauper format”. Magic cards have different rarities and, although they don’t directly effect the strength of the card, cards that are more rare often have more complex effects, and often tend to be better. Cards with higher rarities are often more expensive to get a hold of as well. To level the playing field, pauper format only allows cards with a common rarity to be used in play.
References
Pontes Books 