alms
/ɑːmz/ (bre, ipa) · /ɑːmz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈä(l)mz/ (ame, mw)
alms — noun
1. items such as money, food, or clothing that are given freely to people who are l
items such as money, food, or clothing that are given freely to people who are living in poverty, often as a religious or charitable act
The temple collected alms from villagers every Sunday morning to distribute to the needy.
collocation: collect alms
During the drought, the local church gave alms of rice and fish to nearby villages.
collocation: give alms of [food items]
The old woman offered alms to the beggar sitting outside the cathedral gates.
Father Miguel distributed alms of bread and coins to the poor families after Sunday mass.
Every winter, the wealthy merchant donated alms to support the orphanage and the local hospital.
- charity
broader — can refer to any act of kindness or to an organisation, not limited to material goods given directly to the poor
- donation
more general — can be given to any cause or institution, not only for poverty relief
- handout
informal — often refers to small amounts of money or food given to someone begging on the street
- offering
often religious — can be money or goods given to a church or shrine, not necessarily for the poor
用法筆記
Often used in religious or historical contexts. The word is typically treated as a plural noun (e.g., 'alms are given'), but it can also function as an uncountable noun. In modern everyday speech, 'donations' or 'handouts' are more common.