ˈalms-deed
[f. alms + deed, from the early phrase to do alms.]
1. An act of almsgiving; a deed of charity to the poor, especially as a religious good work.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 107 Ȝif þe ȝunge bið butan hersumnesse, and þe richen butan elmesdedan. c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. (1866) 11 To helpe þaire sawles with almous dedes and prayers. c 1450 Merlin 94 And dide many faire almesse dedes. a 1564 Becon Art. Chr. Rel. (1844) 468 Thy almose-deeds and thy prayers are come up into heaven. 1611 Bible Acts ix. 36 This woman was full of good works and almes deeds. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xxi. 600 Almsdeeds were always regarded as a religious duty. |
† 2. The practice of almsgiving, charity. Obs.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 207 He haueð ofte forlete almes-dede. c 1315 Shoreham 37 Almesdede senne quenketh, Ase water that fer aquencheth. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 1058 In vertu and in holy almes-dede They lyven alle. c 1450 Lonelich Grail lvi. 50 Mochel almesdede ded he trewly. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, v. v. 79 Murther is thy Almes-deed; Petitioners for Blood thou ne're put'st back. |
† 3. A meritorious action, a good work = alms 2.
| c 1430 Lydg. Bochas iv. v. (1554) 103/b, They dempte it was an almesse dede To set theyr londe in quiet. 1519 W. Horman Vulgaria, It is an almesdede to help the chevalry of Rhodes agaynst the Turkes. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth III. 10 It were an alms deed to leave him there. |