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Alms

.

Gifts to the poor.

Dr. Johnson says the word has no singular; whereas Todd says it has no plural. Like riches it is wholly singular in construction, but is used both as a noun singular and noun plural. Of course it is Almos-ine, almos-ie, Almose, almesso, almes, alms, the s is not the plural suffix. Riches is the French richesse. Both words are singular, but, as nouns of multitude, prefer the plural construction. (Latin alimosina, Greek eleemosynē, from the verb eleēo, I pity.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Alma (the human soul)
Alma Mater
Almack’s
Almagest
Alman
Almanac
Almesbury
Almighty Dollar
Almond Tree
Almonry
Alms
Alms Basket
Alms-drink
Alms-fee
Alms-house
Alms-man
Alnaschar Dream (An)
Alnaschar of Modern Literature
Aloe
Along-shore Men
Alonzo of Aguilar