Alms, n. pl.

(ămz), n. pl. [A.-S. almes, elmes, almesse, O. Eng. almesse, O. Fr. almosne, aumosne, almoigne, almoignes, N. Fr. aumône, Pr. almosna, Ger. almosen, from Lat. eleemosyna, Gr. ἐλεημοσύνη, pity, mercy, charity, alms; ἐλεεῖν, to have pity or mercy.] Any thing given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; charity.

Cornelius gave much alms to the people. Acts x. 2.

Tenure by free alms, or frank-almoign, in England, is that by which the possessor is bound to pray for the soul of the donor, whether dead or alive. Blackstone.

☞ This word is singular in its form (almesse), and was formerly so used; as, “to ask an alms.” It is now commonly used as a plural noun.