Lexical Definition

‎πτωχός‎ ptōchós (pto-khos') poor ^G:N
from (to crouch)

beggar(-ly), poor.

• akin to ‎πτοέω‎ and the alternate of ‎πίπτω‎)
• a beggar (as cringing), i.e. pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy, although also used in a qualified or relative sense
• whereas ‎πένης‎ properly means only straitened circumstances in private), literally (often as noun) or figuratively (distressed)

Abbott-Smith

πτωχός, -ή, -όν (< πτώσσω, to crouch, cower), [in LXX for עָנִי, דַּל, רָשׁ, etc.;]
of one who crouches and cowers, hence,
1. as subst., a beggar: Lk 14:13, 21 16:20, 22.
2. As adj.,
(a) prop., beggarly: metaph., στοιχεῖα, Ga 4:9 (v. Lft., in l.);
(b) in broader sense (opp. to πλούσιος), poor: Mt 11:5 19:21 26:9, 11, Mk 10:21 12:42, 43 14:5, 7, Lk 4:18 7:22 18:22 19:8 21:3, Jo 12:5, 6, 8 13:29, Ro 15:26, II Co 6:10, Ga 2:10, Ja 2:2, 3, 6, Re 13:16; π. τ. κόσμῳ, Ja 2:5; metaph., Lk 6:20, Re 3:17; π. τ. πνεύματι, Mt 5:3.†
SYN.: πένης, q.v.

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

πτωχός, ή, όν,

also ός, όν [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— beggar, [Refs 8th c.BC+] beggar-woman, [πτωχός (\_feminine\_), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 444); χήρα πτωχή NT.Mark.12.42. ">NT+5th c.BC+]

__2 metaphorically, οἱ π. τῷ πνεύματι [NT]
__II as adjective, beggarly, πτωχῷ διαίτῃ [NT+5th c.BC+]: with genitive, beggared of, poor in, [πηγὴ] π. νυμφῶν [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.2 comparative πτωχότερος [Refs 4th c.BC+]; proverbial, π. κίγκλου 'as poor as a church mouse', [Refs 5th c.BC+]: superlative πτωχότατος [Refs 6th c.AD+]
__II.3 adverb -χῶς poorly, scantily, ἠροτρία π. μέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀναγκαίως [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Mark.12.42 ☩ Matt.5.3 ☩ Luke.6.20 ☩ Gal.4.9}