Alms — or almsgiving exists in a number of religions. In general, it involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue. In Abrahamic religions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to … Wikipedia
Alms — ([add]mz), n. sing. & pl. [OE. almes, almesse, AS. [ae]lmysse, fr. L. eleemosyna, Gr. elehmosy nh mercy, charity, alms, fr. eleei^n to pity. Cf. {Almonry}, {Eleemosynary}.] Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
alms — (n.) O.E. ælmesse alms, almsgiving, from P.Gmc. *alemosna (Cf. O.S. alamosna, O.H.G. alamuosan, O.N. ölmusa), an early borrowing of V.L. *alemosyna (Cf. O.Sp. almosna, O.Fr. almosne, It. limosina), from Church L. eleemosyna (Tertullian, 3c.),… … Etymology dictionary
alms — alms; alms·deed; alms·man; … English syllables
alms — [ämz] n. pl. alms [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]… … English World dictionary
alms — [a:mz US a:mz, a:lmz] n [plural] literary [: Old English; Origin: Almesse, Alms, from Late Latin eleemosyna, from Greek, from eleos pity ] money, food etc given to poor people in the past … Dictionary of contemporary English
alms — index contribution (donation), donation, largess (gift) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
alms — [ amz ] noun plural OLD FASHIONED money, food, or clothes given to poor people … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
alms — benefaction, contribution, *donation Analogous words: *charity, philanthropy: dole, pittance, allowance, *ration … New Dictionary of Synonyms
alms — [n] handout aid, assistance, benefaction, charity, contribution, dole, donation, offering; concepts 337,657 … New thesaurus