alms

Etymology

From Middle English almes, almesse, ælmesse, from Old English ælmesse, from Proto-West Germanic *alemōsinā, 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”).

noun

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.