Webster's English Dictionary

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alms

alms \'a:mz, 'a:lmz\ \-.giv-*r\ \-.giv-in\ n or alms [ME almesse, almes, 
   fr. OE lmesse, lms pl X; akin to OHG alamuosan alms; both fr. a 
   prehistoric WGmc word borrowed fr. LL eleemosyna alms, fr. Gk elee-mosyne- 
   pity, alms, fr. elee-mo-n merciful, fr. eleos pity archaic  1: CHARITY  2: 
   something given freely to relieve the poor  - alms.giv.er n