alms
alms definition
alms (ämz)
noun pl. alms
- money, food, clothes, etc. given to poor people
- Obsolete a deed of mercy
Etymology: ME almesse < OE ælmesse < LL(Ec) eleemosyna < Gr eleēmosynē, pity, mercy (in LXX & N.T., charity, alms) < eleēmōn, merciful < eleos, mercy, orig., woe, prob. < IE echoic base *el- > Norw dial. jalm, noise
Related Forms:
- almsgiver alms′·giv′er noun
- almsgiving alms′·giv′·ing noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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