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elemosina

alms, charity

noun eh-leh-MOH-zee-nah Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: From Greek eleemosyne, 'pity, mercy'.

Usage Note

Elemosina is feminine and typically singular; it refers to a charitable gift given to a beggar or the poor. The common phrase fare l'elemosina means 'to give alms'. In modern usage it can also carry a mildly pejorative tone — implying that something given is meagre, like a handout.

Examples

"Il vecchio chiedeva l'elemosina all'angolo della strada."

Natural Translation

The old man was begging for alms on the street corner.

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