alms

Meaning

Noun

• Something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.

Origin

• 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 ("alms"), from ἐλεέω, from ἔλεος. Compare Saterland Frisian Aalmoose ("alms"), Dutch aalmoes ("alms"), German Almosen ("alms").