Almsgivings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of generously providing charity or donations to those in need
2. Voluntary contributions meant to aid the impoverished and support social welfare
3. An expression of compassion through giving to enhance the well-being of the less fortunate

Etymology: "Almsgivings" is simply the plural of "almsgiving," a compound formed from "alms" and "giving." The second element is the ordinary English gerund meaning the act of giving, so the compound describes a specific act of charitable donation. The plural form is used when counting or discussing separate acts of this kind. "Alms" is the older and more interesting part. It descends from Old English "ælmesse," itself borrowed from Latin "eleemosyna," which came from Greek "eleēmosynē," meaning mercy or pity. The Greek word is rooted in "eleos," pity, which is also the source of the English exclamation "Kyrie eleison" in liturgy. Over centuries the word narrowed from the general idea of mercy toward the specific practice of giving to the poor, and the shortened form "alms" eventually became the common term.

Synonyms: charitable donations, charity