Main Entry: alms

Pronunciation: \ˈä(l)mz\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural alms

Etymology: 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

Date: before 12th century

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