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Webster 1913 Edition
Beguard
{
, Be-ghard′
Be-guard′
}Noun.
[F.
bégard
, béguard
; cf. G. beghard
, LL. Beghardus
, Begihardus
, Begardus
. Prob. from the root of beguine
+ -ard
or -hard
. See Beguine
.] (Eccl. Hist.)
One of an association of religious laymen living in imitation of the Beguines. They arose in the thirteenth century, were afterward subjected to much persecution, and were suppressed by Innocent X. in 1650. Called also Beguins.