Definition: Charity

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology

From Middle English charite, from Old French charité, cherte, chariteit, cariteit, from Latin cāritās.

Noun

charity (countable and uncountable, plural charities)

  1. (countable) An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable (kind, generous) purpose.
  2. (countable) The goods or money given to those in need.
  3. (uncountable) Benevolence to others less fortunate than ourselves; the providing of goods or money to those in need.
  4. In general, an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, now especially suggesting generosity.

Derived terms

  • anticharity
  • charitable
  • charity box
  • charity case
  • charity shop
  • charity stamp
  • charity stripe
  • charityware
  • principle of charity

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