alms-deed

A woman performs an alms-deed by giving food to a person in need.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Charitable act: "alms-deed" refers to a charitable action or gift, typically motivated by religious or moral duty, aimed at relieving poverty or suffering.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She performed an alms-deed by giving food to the homeless. (She carried out a charitable act.)
  • The monastery encouraged every member to do an alms-deed each week. (They were urged to perform a charitable gift or service.)

Advanced Usage

• "to do an alms-deed": to perform a specific act of charity.

  • He felt compelled to do an alms-deed for the beggar on the street. (He felt a moral obligation to give charity.)

• "alms-deed of mercy": a charitable act motivated by compassion.

  • Visiting the sick was considered an alms-deed of mercy in medieval times. (Such visits were seen as a charitable act of kindness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Alms (n): money, food, or other donations given to the poor.

  • The church distributed alms to the needy. (Donations were given out.)

• Deed (n): an action performed intentionally, often with legal or moral significance.

  • His good deed was recognized by the community. (His action was acknowledged.)

Synonyms

• Charity: voluntary giving of help or money to those in need.
• Benefaction: a donation or gift intended to benefit others.
• Good work: a morally positive action, often in a religious context.

Related Idioms

• Do a good deed: to perform a helpful or charitable act.

  • She did a good deed by helping the elderly woman cross the street. (She performed a kind action.)

• Give alms: to donate money or goods to the poor.

  • In some cultures, it is customary to give alms during religious festivals. (Donations are made.)

Note: "Alms-deed" is an archaic or formal term, rarely used in modern everyday English, but it appears in historical, religious, or literary texts.