noun
alms
ahmz
Alms (noun) means Money, food, or other help given to the poor as charity. Example: “The monastery distributed alms to beggars every Friday.”
noun
1
Money, food, or other help given to the poor as charity.
"She gave $10 weekly to the poor as alms, in an era when $10 was serious money."
"Alms are distributed from the weekly collection."
"The monastery distributed alms to beggars every Friday."
How to use alms
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCharity given to people in need — an old-fashioned word, mostly seen in religious or historical contexts today.
Common pairings
give alms
alms for the poor
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Word forms
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The monastery distributed _____ to beggars every Friday.
Etymology
From Old English ælmesse, borrowed ultimately from Ancient Greek eleēmosúnē, "pity, mercy" — the same root that gives "eleemosynary".
Rhymes for alms
See all rhymes for alms →Frequently asked questions
What does “alms” mean?
The word “alms” means money, food, or other help given to the poor as charity. In plain terms, charity given to people in need — an old-fashioned word, mostly seen in religious or historical contexts today.
How do you pronounce “alms”?
“Alms” is pronounced ahmz (/ɑmz/ in IPA).
How do you use “alms” in a sentence?
Here is “alms” used in a sentence: “The monastery distributed alms to beggars every Friday.”
What part of speech is “alms”?
“Alms” is a noun.
Where does the word “alms” come from?
The word “alms” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old English ælmesse, borrowed ultimately from Ancient Greek eleēmosúnē, "pity, mercy" — the same root that gives "eleemosynary".
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