alms
English
Etymology
From Middle English almes, almesse, ælmesse, from Old English ælmesse, from Proto-West Germanic *alemōsinā, a borrowing from Vulgar Latin *alemosyna, from Late Latin eleēmosyna, from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosúnē, “alms”), from ἐλεέω (eleéō, “I have mercy”), from ἔλεος (éleos, “mercy”). Compare Saterland Frisian Aalmoose (“alms”), Dutch aalmoes (“alms”), German Almosen (“alms”).
Pronunciation
Noun
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- Something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.
- She gave $10 weekly to the poor as alms.
- Alms are distributed from the weekly collection for the purpose.
- c. 1779, Alban Butler, Lives of the Saints
- St. Antoninus never refused an alms which was asked in the name of God.
Derived terms
- alms-deed
- alms-fee
- almsfolk
- almsful
- almsgate
- almsgift
- almsgiver
- almsgiving
- almshouse
- almsland
- almsless
- almsman
- alms penny
- almsroom
- alms tub
- plough-alms
Related terms
Descendants
- Gullah: aa'ms
Translations
something given to the poor as charity
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References
- Krapp, George Philip (1925) The English Language in America, volume II, New York: Century Co. for the Modern Language Association of America, →OCLC, page 82.
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