charity

char·i·ty

noun \ˈcher-ə-tē, ˈcha-rə-\

plural char·i·ties

Definition of CHARITY

1

: benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

2

a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor c : public provision for the relief of the needy

3

a : a gift for public benevolent purposes b : an institution (as a hospital) founded by such a gift

4

: lenient judgment of others

Examples of CHARITY

1. The holidays are a time for charity and good will.
2. She refused to accept charity.
3. The dinner was held to raise funds for several charities.
4. She runs a local charity that gives books to children.
5. All the money will go to charity.

Origin of CHARITY

Middle English charite, from Anglo-French charité, from Late Latin caritat-, caritas Christian love, from Latin, dearness, from carus dear; akin to Old Irish carae friend, Sanskrit kāma love

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CHARITY

Synonyms: almsgiving, dole, philanthropy

Antonyms: coldheartedness, hard-heartedness, inhumanity, inhumanness, mercilessness, pitilessness

Related Words: altruism, do-gooding, do-goodism, humanism, humanitarianism; beneficence, benevolence, goodwill; alms, benefaction, contribution, donation; relief, welfare; endowment, fund, grant, subsidy

Near Antonyms: hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, uncharitableness; reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; atrocity, barbarity, brutality, cruelty, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, violence, wantonness; castigation, chastisement, discipline, punishment, scolding; abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; cattiness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor; hatefulness, invidiousness; coarseness, hardness, harshness, roughness

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See Synonym Discussion at mercy

Rhymes with CHARITY

parity

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