charity

¹

[ char-i-tee ]

noun

, plural char·i·ties.

1. generous actions or donations to aid people who are poor, ill, or needy:

   to devote one's life to charity.

2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms:

   She asked for work, not charity.

3. a charitable act or work.
4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution:

   He left his estate to a charity.

5. benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor:

   She looked so hungry that we fed her out of charity.

   Synonyms: aid, philanthropy, altruism, almsgiving, quarter, mercy, indulgence, lenity, leniency, clemency, sympathy, pity, benignity, humanity, goodwill, compassion, kindness, kindliness, benevolence, donation, dole, contribution, beneficence, benefaction

   Antonyms: malevolence

6. leniency in judging others; forbearance:

   She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity.

7. Christian love; agape.

Charity

²

[ char-i-tee ]

noun

1. a female given name.

charity

/ ˈtʃærɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. the giving of help, money, food, etc, to those in need
   2. ( as modifier )

      a charity show

2. 1. an institution or organization set up to provide help, money, etc, to those in need
   2. ( as modifier )

      charity funds

3. the help, money, etc, given to the needy; alms
4. a kindly and lenient attitude towards people
5. love of one's fellow men

Other Words From

• chari·ty·less adjective
• over·chari·ty noun
• pro·chari·ty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of charity¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English charite, from Old French charite, cherite, from Latin cāritāt- (stem of cāritās “high price, costliness, dearness, affection, esteem”), equivalent to cār(us) “costly, dear” + -itāt- noun suffix; cherish, Kama, caress; -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of charity¹

C13: from Old French charite, from Latin cāritās affection, love, from cārus dear

Example Sentences

Some are part of criminal syndicates or "recruited" to be in one, Busi Thabane, from Benchmarks Foundation, a charity which monitors corporations in South Africa, told the BBC's NewsDay programme.

From BBC

The former Top Gear and Take Me Out host has so far cycled more than 200 miles and raised more than £3.3m for the charity.

From BBC

He continues to invest in companies, as well as running his charity, the Hunter Foundation, which he and his wife Marion established in 1998.

From BBC

This was two years after an investigation revealed he had subjected boys in the UK, many of whom he had met at Christian holiday camps run by a charity he chaired that was linked to the Church, to traumatic physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

From BBC

The final transfer of ownership to the British Museum will be subject to the Charity Commission's consent.

From BBC

Related Words

• donation
• endowment
• fund
• philanthropy