almsgiving

American  

[ahlmz-giv-ing, ahmz-] / ˈɑlmzˌgɪv ɪŋ, ˈɑmz- /

noun

almsgivings plural

1. the act of donating money, food, or other items to people in need of them, especially as a spiritual practice.

   Almsgiving helps us experience giving freely, which leads to freedom from the obsession with possessing, freedom from the fear of losing what we have.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• almsgivings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of almsgiving

alms + giving

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

almsgiving almsgivings

It concludes a 40-day period known as Lent, during which Christians focus on prayer, almsgiving, and practice traditions such as abstinence from eating meat on certain days.

From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026

We’re also supposed to practice almsgiving and assist those less fortunate than ourselves as a way of honoring Christ, who pointed out that giving so it costs you is the only way to give.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

While in Mecca he spent lavishly, contributing some 100,000 gold pieces to charity and related almsgiving programs.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Visitors can read about the five pillars of Islam — the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and hajj or pilgrimage — or learn about hajj rituals and different funerary practices in the Islamic world.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 9, 2022

Extolling almsgiving as a prime virtue, and itself maintaining a vast number of charitable institutions, it has not yet assimilated modern methods of relief.

From Spanish Highways and Byways by Bates, Katharine Lee

Many songs deal directly with almsgivings, the ritual of pity.

From Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs (1886) by Martinengo-Cesaresco, Countess Evelyn

It prescribes prayers, almsgivings, fasting, pilgrimages, and ablutions, besides various rules to be observed in all the domestic and social relations.

From Life of Schamyl And Narrative of the Circassian War of Independence Against Russia by Mackie, John Milton

Not to his own good works, almsgivings, church-goings, church-buildings. 

From The Good News of God by Kingsley, Charles