Charities

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Charity \Char"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Charities}. [F. charit['e] fr. L.
     caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly,
     loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend,
     W. caru to love. Cf. {Caress}.]
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     1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.


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              Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the
              greatest of these is charity.         --1. Cor.
                                                    xiii. 13.
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              They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose
              hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. --Ruskin.
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              With malice towards none, with charity for all.
                                                    --Lincoln.
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     2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a
        disposition which inclines men to put the best
        construction on the words and actions of others.
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              The highest exercise of charity is charity towards
              the uncharitable.                     --Buckminster.
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     3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent
        institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity.
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              The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido
              to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. --Dryden.
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     4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or
        suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness.
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              She did ill then to refuse her a charity.
                                                    --L'Estrange.
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     5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support
        such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.
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     6. pl. (Law) Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises]
        including relief of the poor or friendless, education,
        religious culture, and public institutions.
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              The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless,
              Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers.
                                                    --Wordsworth.
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     {Sisters of Charity} (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious
        women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick;
        -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the
        Sisters of Charity.
  
     Syn: Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness;
          beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.
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