First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
alms
noun \ˈä(l)mz\
: money, clothes, food, and other things given to poor people
plural alms
Full Definition of ALMS
1
archaic : charity
2
: something (as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor
— alms·giv·er \-ˌgi-vər\ noun
— alms·giv·ing \-ˌgi-viŋ\ noun
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Origin of ALMS
Middle English almesse, almes, from Old English ælmesse, ælmes, from Late Latin eleemosyna alms, from Greek eleēmosynē pity, alms, from eleēmōn merciful, from eleos pity
ALMS Defined for Kids
alms
noun \ˈämz, ˈälmz\
plural alms
Definition of ALMS for Kids
: money given to help the poor : charity
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