Part 338

<hw>Al"mon*er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>aumener</ets>, <ets>aulmener</ets>, OF. <ets>almosnier</ets>, <ets>aumosnier</ets>, F. <ets>aum\'93nier</ets>, fr. OF. <ets>almosne</ets>, alms, L. <ets>eleemosyna</ets>. See <er>Alms</er>.]</ety> <def>One who distributes alms, esp. the doles and alms of religious houses, almshouses, etc.; also, one who dispenses alms for another, as the <i>almoner</i> of a prince, bishop, etc.</def>

<h1>Almonership</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Al"mon*er*ship</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The office of an almoner.</def>

<h1>Almonry</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Al"mon*ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Almonries</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[OF. <ets>aumosnerie</ets>, F. <ets>aum\'93nerie</ets>, fr. OF. <ets>aumosnier</ets>. See <er>Almoner</er>.]</ety> <def>The place where an almoner resides, or where alms are distributed.</def>

<h1>Almose</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Al"mose</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Alms.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Cheke.</i>

<h1>Almost</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Al"most</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>ealm\'91st</ets>, <ets>\'91lm\'91st</ets>, quite the most, almost all; <ets>eal</ets> (OE. <ets>al</ets>) all + <ets>m<?/st</ets> most.]</ety> <def>Nearly; well nigh; all but; for the greatest part.</def>

<blockquote><b>Almost</b> thou persuadest me to be a Christian. <i>Acts xxvi. 28.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Almost never</col>, <cd>scarcely ever.</cd> -- <col>Almost nothing</col>, <cd>scarcely anything.</cd></cs>

<h1>Almry</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Alm"ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Almonry</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Alms</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Alms</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n. sing. & pl.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>almes</ets>, <ets>almesse</ets>, AS. <ets>\'91lmysse</ets>, fr. L. <ets>eleemosyna</ets>, Gr. <?/ mercy, charity, alms, fr. <?/ to pity. Cf. <er>Almonry</er>, <er>Eleemosynary</er>.]</ety> <def>Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money, food, or clothing; a gift of charity.</def>

<blockquote>A devout man . . . which gave much <b>alms</b> to the people. <i>Acts x. 2.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Alms</b> are but the vehicles of prayer. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Tenure by free alms</col>. <cd>See <er>Frankalmoign</er>.</cd></cs>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<note>&hand; This word <i>alms</i> is singular in its form (<i>almesse</i>), and is sometimes so used; as, "asked an <i>alms</i>." <i>Acts iii. 3</i>."Received an <i>alms</i>." <i>Shak</i>. It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used in composition, as <i>alms</i>giver, <i>alms</i>giving, alms bag, <i>alms</i> chest, etc.</note>

<h1>Almsdeed</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Alms"deed`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An act of charity.</def>

<i>Acts ix. 36.</i>

<h1>Almsfolk</h1> <Xpage=42>

<hw>Alms"folk`</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Persons supported by alms; almsmen.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Holinshed.</i>

<h1>Almsgiver</h1> <Xpage=42>