alms

From Middle English almes, almesse, ælmesse, from Old English ælmesse, from West Germanic *alimosina, 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”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɑːmz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɑmz/, /ɑlmz/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɑːmz

alms (plural alms)

1. 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.

• almsgiver
• almsgiving

• eleemosynary

• AMLs, AMSL, LAMs, Lams, SLAM, lams, mals, masl, salm, slam

alms

1. indefinite genitive singular of alm