almsgiving

noun pl. alms

1. money, food, clothes, etc. given to poor people
2. Obsolete a deed of mercy

Origin: ME almesse < OE ælmesse < LL(Ec) eleemosyna < Gr eleēmosynē, pity, mercy (in LXX & N.T., charity, alms) < eleēmōn, merciful < eleos, mercy, orig., woe, prob. < IE echoic base *el- > Norw dial. jalm, noise