alms
[ ahmz ]
/ ɑmz /
noun (used with a singular or plural verb)
money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy; anything given as charity: The hands of the beggars were outstretched for alms.
Origin of alms
before 1000; Middle English
almes, almesse, Old English
ælmesse (compare Old Saxon
alamōsna, Old High German
alamuosa, Dutch
aalmoes; Old Spanish
almosna) ≪ Late Latin
eleēmosyna < Greek
eleēmosýnē compassion, alms, derivative of
éleos pity. See
eleemosynary
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alms
alms armsWords nearby alms
Example sentences from the Web for alms
British Dictionary definitions for alms
alms
/ (ɑːmz) /
pl n
charitable donations of money or goods to the poor or needy
Word Origin for alms
Old English
ælmysse, from Late Latin
eleēmosyna, from Greek
eleēmosunē pity; see
eleemosynary