Synonyms for alms
Antonyms for alms
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB 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?
WORD ORIGIN
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.