▪ I. almoner1
(ˈælmənə(r), ˈɑːm-)
Forms: α. 3–4 aumoner(e, amoner, 3–5 aumener(e, 4–5 -eer, 5 awmener, -eer, (ambynowre), amener, 5–7 amner, 6–7 almner, almener, almonar, 6– almoner. β. 5–7 almosner, 6 -osiner, 7 -oisner, ausmoner. γ. 6 almoigner, almoygner, -or, almoiner. δ. 5 aumere, almer, -ar, 6 -owr; 5 awmerer; 6 amonerer.
[a. OFr. aumoner, aumonier (12th c. almosnier, 13th aumosnier, 15th aulmosnier, mod. aumônier):—late L. *almosinārius for eleēmosynārius, prop. adj. ‘connected with alms,’ sc. homo, f. eleēmosyna alms. But perh. partly due, esp. in sense 3, to OFr. almosnère, -eor, later -eur:—L. eleēmosynātor -ātorem an alms-giver.
The native development was aumoner, aumener, aumner, amner (ā) the regular form in 16th c. But the Renascence brought up a number of artificial spellings, after later Fr. aulmosnier, ausmonier, AFr. almoignier, and their med.L. adaptations, under the influence of which and the native alms, amner has been artificially refashioned as almner, almener, almoner, and the pronunciation has followed the spelling. The 15th c. aumere, almer, and Sc. almowr, are direct formations on aumes, almes; aumer-er, amoner-er seem to be f. awmere, awmener, a purse; see almoner2.]
1. An official distributor of the alms of another; the name of a functionary in a religious house, in the household of a bishop, prince, or other person of rank. Sometimes applied to the chaplain of a hospital, or other institution.
In the royal household of Great Britain there is a titular Hereditary Grand Almoner besides the Lord High Almoner, and Sub-almoner, who are clergymen.
| α c 1300 Cursor M. 15219 Judas..Was iesu crist aumoner [v.r. aumener(e]. 1366 Maundev. xix. 210 Whan the covent of this abbeye hath eaten, the awmener let bere the releef to the gardyn. 1444 Polit. Poems II. 220 The awmeneer seyth he cam to late. 1494 Fabyan vii. 586 The lord of Awdeley amner, in stede of the erle of Cambrydge. 1548 Hall Chron. 790 Dr. Fox the Kynges Amner made an eloquent oracion in Latin. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Limosnero, an almener. 1630 R. Brathwait Eng. Gent. (1641) 242 These deferre giving, till they cannot give, making their executors their almoners. 1647 Haward Crown Rev. 31 Gentleman Amner: Fee, 11l. 8s. 1d. ob.; Subamner: Fee, 6l. 16s. 10d. ob. 1654 Lestrange K. Charles I, 176 There came to London from Cardinal Richelieu..his Chaplain and Almner. 1667 E. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. ii. xii. (1743) 97 The Lord Almoner disposes of the king's alms. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) III. xxxvi. 209 He is now and then my almoner. 1867 J. Martineau Chr. Life (ed. 4) 178 The almoner of God to the poor and sad. 1870 Daily News 10 Nov., The almoners of the Berliner Hülfsverein. |
| β 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 124/3 He [saynt Johan] was called almosner or amener. 1553–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 1693/1 The almosiner, a phisition, and a surgeon to attend upon them. 1586 Wills & Inv. N.C. (1860) 134 To the almosiners of this towne of Middlesburghe. 1601 Tate tr. Househ. Ord. Ed. II, §19. 55 For the ausmoner & al under him. 1617 James I Patent in Lib. Mun. Hib. I. ii. 81 To erect and establish an office of Almosner in this our realm of Ireland. |
| γ 1528 More Heresyes i. Wks. 1557, 164/2 Doctor Mayo, sometyme almoygner to king Henry the seuenth. 1564 Grindal Fun. Serm. Wks. 1843, 32 The Bishop of Rochester, chiefe Almoygnor. 1598 Stow Surv. (ed. Strype 1754) II. ix. 718/1 All Almoisners and houses of Almoise. |
| δ ? c 1400 in Dom. Arch. III. 133 The aumere a rod schall haue in honde. c 1430 Lydg. ibid. III. 133 Humble compassion was his awmerer. 1450 Old Will in Academy 27 Sept. (1882) 231/2 The thonne of þame the þo almer and the tother of yame the tother almar. c 1510 Bonaventura's Myrrour (Pynson) viii. D j, Theyr amonerers or tresourers myght lightly have had it in hande. a 1600 Mem. of Spottiswood 3 (Jam.) To stay with the queene and attend her Maiestie as her Almowr. |
2. fig.
| 1822 B. Cornwall Lys. & Ione 1 Iris..Is the Spring's almoner..and scatters Upon the subject world, dyed flowers and sweets. 1873 Sir J. Herschel Pop. Lect. ii. §20. 62 The sun is the almoner of the Almighty. |
† 3. One who gives alms largely; an alms-giver. Obs. or arch.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5575 Seynt Joan þe aumonere. 1340 Ayenb. 190 Ine þe lyue of Ion þe amoner. a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. 53. Mercy hir syster salle be ambynowre þat gyffes to alle. 1483 [See in 1 β]. 1580 Baret Alv. A 365 An Amner, or giuer of almes, seemeth to be deriued of this French worde Aumosnier, and therefore ought rather to be written almonar. 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 193 Who for his liberal relieving of the needy was surnamed the Almner. 1591 H. Locke in Farr S.P. I. 138 An amner to the poore that helpless cry. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 389 [Dorcas] was a discreet, iust, compassionate, cheerefull, simple-hearted almoner. 1874 J. Holland Mist. Manse ix. 156 Who found the largess in her palms And him the friendly almoner. |
4. A hospital official who has duties concerning patients' welfare (also formerly concerning patients' payments).
| 1896 M. Stewart in Mag. Lond. School Med. for Women May 146 The appointment of an almoner is an experimental measure which has been adopted conjointly by the [Royal Free] Hospital and the Charity Organisation Society. 1922 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 384/2 Many hospitals had adopted the almoner system, that is, specially appointed hospital employees who approach the individual patient who comes to hospital, explain the needs of the hospital, and invite the patient to contribute according to his ability. 1964 Times 10 Oct., The almoner has died, at least in name,..giving way to a new title, Medical Social Worker. |
▪ II. † ˈalmoner2 Obs.
Forms: 4–5 au-, awmener, awmer, alner.
[a. OFr. aumosnière, aumonière (med.L. almonaria):—L. *eleēmosynāria, prop. adj., sc. bursa, arca, etc., a place for alms.]
An alms-purse; a bag, a purse.
| c 1330 Sir Degarré 5, I tok hit out and haue hit er, Redi in min aumener. 1375 Barbour Bruce viii. 490 Quhen he ded wes..Thai fand in-till his awmener A letter. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2087 Thanne of his awmener he drough A litell keye. Ibid. 2270 Weare streit gloves, with awmere Of silk. c 1460 Launfal 319, I wyll the yeve an alner, Imad of sylk. 1834 J. R. Planché Brit. Costume 89 Berengaria..is represented with a small pouch called an aulmonière. |