charities

Variant of charity

noun pl. charities

  1. Christian Theol. the love of God for humanity, or a love of one's fellow human beings
  2. an act of goodwill or affection
  3. the feeling of goodwill; benevolence
  4. kindness or leniency in judging others
    1. a voluntary giving of money or other help to those in need
    2. money or help so given
    3. an institution or other recipient of such help
  5. a welfare institution, organization, or fund

Origin: ME & OFr charite < L caritas, costliness, esteem, affection (in Vulg., often used as transl. of LGr(Ec) agapē, agape) < carus, dear, valued < IE *karo- < base *ka-, to like, desire > whore

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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