[alms] n, pl alms [ME almesse, almes, fr. OE aelmesse, aelmes, fr. LL eleemosyna alms, fr. Gk eleemosyne pity, alms, fr. eleemon merciful, fr. eleos pity] (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: charity
2: something (as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor -- alms.giv.er n -- alms.giv.ing n