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Definition of alms

alms

/ɑːmz/
alms
Plural:alms
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alms Lexical Profile

alms Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Money, food, or other material goods donated out of charity to people living in poverty.

Example

"Monks at the medieval abbey distributed alms of bread and coins to travelers and the needy every morning."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for alms

Word Nuance & Usage

Although historically singular in Old English, 'alms' is now treated as a plural or uncountable noun taking a plural verb (e.g., 'alms were distributed to the poor') and cannot be preceded by the indefinite article 'an'.

• Nearby Words

almighty
almond
almost
alms
almsgiver
almsgiving
almshouse

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'ælmesse', via Late Latin 'eleemosyna', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'eleēmosynē' meaning 'pity, mercy, or charity', from 'eleos' ('compassion').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alms. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alms
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