CHARITY

charity

(noun) an activity or gift that benefits the public at large

charity, brotherly love

(noun) a kindly and lenient attitude toward people

charity

(noun) an institution set up to provide help to the needy

charity

(noun) a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

charity (countable and uncountable, plural charities)

(countable) An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable purpose.

(countable) The goods or money given to those in need.

(uncountable) Benevolence to others less fortunate than ourselves; the providing of goods or money to those in need.

In general, an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, now especially suggesting generosity.

(obsolete, Christianity) Christian love; representing God's love of man, man's love of God, or man's love of his fellow-men.

Synonym: agape

Synonyms

• (organization): charitable organization

Etymology

Proper noun

Charity

A female given name from English.

The 107th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.

Usage notes

• Originally more popular than Faith and Hope but less common than either of them today.

• Other translations of the sura's title include "Almsgiving" and "Assistance".

Source: Wiktionary


Char"i*ty, n.; pl. Charities. Etym: [F. charité fr. L. caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf. Caress.]

1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.

Defn: Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1. Cor. xiii. 13. They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin. With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln.

2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and actions of others. The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable. Buckminster.

3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity. The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. Dryden.

4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness. She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.

5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.

6. pl. (Law)

Definition: Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions. The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. Wordsworth. Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.

Syn.

– Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness; beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

25 November 2024

ONCHOCERCIASIS

(noun) infestation with slender threadlike roundworms (filaria) deposited under the skin by the bite of black fleas; when the eyes are involved it can result in blindness; common in Africa and tropical America


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