eleemosynary

== English == === Alternative forms === eleëmosynary (diaeretic) === Etymology === From Medieval Latin eleēmosynārius (“alms dispenser”), from Late Latin eleēmosyna (“alms”), from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosúnē, “alms”), from ἐλεήμων (eleḗmōn, “merciful”) + -σῠ́νη (-sŭ́nē, “suffix denoting an abstract noun”). Compare Italian elemosina. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˌɛl.ɪ.iːˈmɒ.sɪ.nə.ɹi/ (US) IPA(key): /ˌɛl.ɪˈmɑː.sə.nɛɹ.i/, /ˌɛl.ɪˈmɑː.zə.nɛɹ.i/, /ˌɛl.i.ɪˈmɑː.sə.nɛɹ.i/, /ˌɛl.i.ɪˈmɑː.zə.nɛɹ.i/ === Adjective === eleemosynary (comparative more eleemosynary, superlative most eleemosynary) Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson, Aetat. 22: His spirited refusal of an eleemosynary supply of shoes, arose, no doubt, from a proper pride. Supported by charity ==== Usage notes ==== A formal, literary word; in everyday use charitable is used instead. ==== Synonyms ==== charitable ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === eleemosynary (plural eleemosynaries) (obsolete) A beggar ==== Related terms ==== eleemosynate eleemosynous