almoner

American  

[al-muh-ner, ah-muh-] / ˈæl mə nər, ˈɑ mə- /

noun

1. a person whose function or duty is the distribution of alms on behalf of an institution, a royal personage, a monastery, etc.

2. British.

   1. a hospital official who determines the amount due for a patient's treatment.

   2. a social worker in a hospital.

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almoner British  

/ ˈɑːmənə /

noun

1. obsolete a trained hospital social worker responsible for the welfare of patients

2. (formerly) a person who distributes alms or charity on behalf of a household or institution

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Other Word Forms

• subalmoner noun

Etymology

Origin of almoner

1250–1300; Middle English almoiner, aumoner (with insertion of l under influence of alms ) < Old French aumon ( i ) er ≪ Late Latin eleēmosynārius eleemosynary

Example Sentences

But the letters went to Rome, and in April 2020, the pope sent money and food to Blessed Virgin through Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, the official dispenser of Francis’s philanthropy.

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2022

They reached out to the pope through Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, who is responsible for charitable work done in the name of pope.

From Fox News • May 1, 2020

Krajewski, whose official title is the pope's almoner, said barbers and hairdressers would volunteer their services on Mondays, the day their shops are traditionally closed in Italy.

From Reuters • Jan. 29, 2015

Though the office of the papal almoner dates to the 12th century, Papal Blessings on parchment began to be issued only about 100 years ago under Pope Leo XIII.

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2014

He was librarian and almoner in the household of the princess de Lamballe, and when in 1792 she was executed, he fled to the provinces, where under the name of Pastel he practised medicine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various