alms

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alms OE. ælmesse, -mysse, whence almes (XIII–XVII; so in A.V.); reduced to alms XVII; corr. to OS. alamōsna, OHG. alamuosan (G. almosen), ON. ǫlmusa :- Gmc. *alemos(i)na — popL., Rom. *alemosina, alt., prob. through L. alimōnia ALIMONY, of Chrl. eleēmosyna — Gr. eleēmosúnē, f. eleḗmōn compassionate, f. éleos mercy. Treated as a pl. like eaves, riches, which are orig. sings.

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