alms

nounhandout

Word Origin & History

Old English ælmesse "alms, almsgiving," from Proto-Germanic *alemosna (cf. Old Saxon alamosna, Old High German alamuosan, Old Norse ölmusa), an early borrowing of Vulgar Latin *alemosyna (source of Old Spanish almosna, Old French almosne, Italian limosina), from Church Latin eleemosyna (Tertullian, 3c.), from Greek eleemosyne "pity, mercy," in Ecclesiastical Greek "charity, alms," from eleemon "compassionate," from eleos "pity, mercy," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative of cries for alms. Spelling perversion in Vulgar Latin is perhaps by influence of alimonia.

Example Sentences for alms

She was not a conqueror of nations or a distributor of crowns, but a giver of alms.

He was in rags, and carried the usual beggar's wallet for food or alms.

You are not paying for it, my child; you are only contributing some alms to the Church.

Aye, aye, it's easy to steal the goose and give the giblets in alms.

Then they wished to know if alms should be given in his name?

A beggar importuned a lady for alms; she gave him a shilling.

I advise you to give him an alms once more, and you will have done with him.

A hundred masses, no less, had to be said that day; a distribution of alms had to be made.

What alms they receive is not in payment—gifts are accepted but not asked for.

Who thinks of alms and eleemosynary as coming from the same Greek word?

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Synonyms for alms

noun handout

alms

Synonyms for alms

Antonyms for alms

More words related to alms

benefaction

beneficence

charity

contribution

contributions

dole

alms

Synonyms for alms

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.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}benefaction

beneficence

charity

contribution

contributions

dole

benefaction