מִסְכֵּן II, מִסְכֵּין to make poor, make contemptible. Koh. R. to IX, 16, v. preced. Ex. R. s. 1; Sot. 11ᵃ (play on מִסְכְּנוֹת, Ex. I, 11) שמְמַסְכְּנוֹת את בעליהן (read: בוניהן) for they (the buildings) impoverish their builders; Yalk. Ex. 162 שמסכנות (corr. acc.). Cant. R. to I, 4 (play on משכני, ib.) [read:] מַסְכְּנֵינִי אחריך נרוצה make me (Israel) poor, and we shall run after thee (v. preced.).
Ithpa. - הִתְמַסְכֵּן,
Nithpa. - נִתְמַסְכֵּן to become poor. Sot. l. c. כל העוסק בבנין מִתְמַסְכֵּן whoever makes building his business will get poor; Yeb. 63ᵃ; Ex. R. l. c.; Yalk. Ex. l. c.