Alma
[al-muh; for 1 also French al-mah]
- a town in SE Quebec, in SE Canada.
- a female given name: from a Latin word meaning “kind.”
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almah
[al-muh]
- (in Egypt) a woman or girl who dances or sings professionally.
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Origin of almah
< Egyptian Arabic ʿalmah, variant of Arabic ʿālimah literally, knowledgeable
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for alma
Contemporary Examples
During his early attempts to become a director, he met Alma Reville, an English girl just one day younger than himself.
In 1945 or 1946, Hitch and Alma were in New York with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, on a publicity tour.
Alma had admired them during a stay in Paris some years ago.
When the screening was over, Hitch asked Alma what she thought.
Since he doesn't have to impress me, it's clearly a little show for Alma.
Historical Examples
She described her reception to Harry Lossing and Alma, later.
Stories of a Western TownOctave Thanet
"What's best for her is the only question, of course," said Alma, helping Harry off the field.
Stories of a Western TownOctave Thanet
Of course Alma was the chief spokeswoman at these whispered conferences.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
Alma would be different, I should be different, above all my husband would be different.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
I only knew that Alma had called herself my friend and promised to take care of me.
The Woman Thou Gavest MeHall Caine
Word Origin and History for alma
Alma
fem. proper name, from Latin Alma "nourishing," fem. of almus; from alere "to nourish" (see old).
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almah
n.
Egyptian dancing-girl, belly-dancer, 1814, perhaps from Arabic almah (fem. adjective), "learned, knowing," from alama "to know." Or perhaps from a Semitic root meaning "girl" (cf. Hebrew alma "a young girl, a damsel").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper