Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Alms
Alms
(a̤mz)
, Noun.
sing.
& pl.
[OE.
almes
, almesse
, AS. ælmysse
, fr. L. eleemosyna
, Gr. ἐλεημοσύνη
mercy, charity, alms, fr. ἐλεεῖν
to pity. Cf. Almonry
, Eleemosynary
.] Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity.
A devout man . . . which gave much
alms
to the people. Acts x. 2.
Alms
are but the vehicles of prayer. Dryden.
☞ This word
alms
is singular in its form (almesse), and is sometimes so used; as, “asked an alms
.” Acts iii. 3.
“Received an alms
.” Shak.
It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used in composition, as alms
giver, alms
giving, alms
bag, alms
chest, etc. Webster 1828 Edition
Alms
'ALMS
, 'amz. [Eng. almesse; L. eleemosyna; Gr. to pity.]Any thing given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing, otherwise called charity.
A lame man was laid daily to ask an alms. Acts. 3.
Cornelius gave much alms to the people. Acts. 10.
Tenure by free alms, or frank-almoign, in England, is that by which the possessor is bound to pray for the soul of the donor, whether dead or alive; a tenure by which most of the ancient monasteries and religious houses in England held their lands, as do the parochial clergy, and many ecclesiastical and eleemosynary establishments at this day. Land thus held was free from all rent or other service.
Definition 2024
alms
alms
English
Noun
alms (plural alms)
- 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.
Related terms
Translations
something given to the poor as charity
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