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Definition of 'alms'

Word Frequency

alms

(ɑːmz )
plural noun
Alms are gifts of money, clothes, or food to poor people.
[old-fashioned]
Alms were distributed to those in need.
More Synonyms of alms
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

alms in British

(ɑːmz )
plural noun
charitable donations of money or goods to poor or needy people
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'alms'
Old English ælmysse, from Late Latin eleēmosyna, from Greek eleēmosunē pity; see eleemosynary
Word Frequency

alms in American

(ɑmz ; ämz)
nounWord forms: plural alms
1. 
money, food, clothes, etc. given to poor people
2.  Obsolete
a deed of mercy
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
almsgiver (ˈalmsˌgiver)
  noun
almsgiving (ˈalmsˌgiving)
  noun
Word origin of '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

Example sentences containing 'alms'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
One by one they put their collection plates on the alms dish. Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (1993)I am afraid there has been some pilfering from the alms dish at St Padarn's. Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (1993)When I returned to the vestry some time later, the note had vanished from the alms dish. Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE (1993)
Since these friars lived on alms, they gravitated to the towns, where citizens were prosperous enough to support them. Newbery, Linda RIDDLE ME THIS (1993)

Trends of 'alms'

Used Occasionally. alms is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Nearby words of 'alms'

  • almonry
  • Almoravide
  • almost
  • alms
  • almsgiver
  • almsgiving
  • almshouse

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related Terms of 'alms'

  • alms-house

Source

Definition of alms from the Collins English Dictionary

The full stop ( . )

Full stops are used: to mark the end of a sentence Let’s have some lunch. I have to catch a bus in ten minutes. to mark the end of a sentence fragment Are you cold?– Yes, a bit . Do you like ...
Read more about 'The full stop ( . )'
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Scrabble score for 'alms': 6
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