/ahmz/ , n. ( used with a sing. or pl. v. )
money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy; anything given as charity: The hands of the beggars were outstretched for alms.
[ bef. 1000; ME almes, almesse, OE aelmesse (cf. OS alamosna, OHG alamuosa, D aalmoes; OSp almosna ) eleemosyna eleemosýne compassion, alms, deriv. of éleos pity. See ELEEMOSYNARY ]