alms-house
Definition
- Noun:
- A charitable institution: "alms-house" refers to a building or establishment, historically funded by charitable donations, where poor or elderly people could live without paying rent. It is often associated with religious or community charity.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The elderly widow was grateful to find a place in the local alms-house. (A charitable home for the poor.)
- The village alms-house was built in the 18th century to house the destitute. (A historic charitable institution.)
Advanced Usage
"to be in the alms-house": to be a resident of such an institution.
- After losing his job, he spent his final years in the alms-house. (He lived in a charitable home for the poor.)
"alms-house charity": the act of providing housing or support through such institutions.
- The town's alms-house charity was run by a local church. (The charitable organization managing the home.)
Variants and Related Words
Alms (n): money, food, or other donations given to the poor.
- The beggar asked for alms on the street corner. (Charitable gifts to the needy.)
Alms-giving (n): the act of donating to the poor.
- Alms-giving was considered a religious duty in medieval times. (The practice of charitable donations.)
Synonyms
- Poorhouse: a historical term for a building where poor people were housed and supported by public or private charity.
- Workhouse: a similar institution where the poor were required to work for their accommodation (often more restrictive than an alms-house).
- Hospice: in historical usage, a place of shelter for the needy or travelers (modern meaning focuses on end-of-life care).
Phrasal Verbs
- (No common phrasal verbs directly associated with "alms-house".)
Related Idioms
- "Out of the alms-house": an idiom meaning to escape poverty or dependence on charity.
- With his new job, he was finally out of the alms-house. (No longer reliant on charitable housing.)