| 释义 |
ˈalms-deed
[f. alms + deed, from the early phrase to do alms.]
1. An act of almsgiving; a deed of charity to the poor, especially as a religious good work.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 107 Ȝif þe ȝunge bið butan hersumnesse, and þe richen butan elmesdedan. c1340Hampole Prose Tr. (1866) 11 To helpe þaire sawles with almous dedes and prayers. c1450Merlin 94 And dide many faire almesse dedes. a1564Becon Art. Chr. Rel. (1844) 468 Thy almose-deeds and thy prayers are come up into heaven. 1611Bible Acts ix. 36 This woman was full of good works and almes deeds. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xxi. 600 Almsdeeds were always regarded as a religious duty.
†2. The practice of almsgiving, charity. Obs.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 207 He haueð ofte forlete almes-dede. c1315Shoreham 37 Almesdede senne quenketh, Ase water that fer aquencheth. c1386Chaucer Man of Law's T. 1058 In vertu and in holy almes-dede They lyven alle. c1450Lonelich Grail lvi. 50 Mochel almesdede ded he trewly. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, v. v. 79 Murther is thy Almes-deed; Petitioners for Blood thou ne're put'st back.
†3. A meritorious action, a good work = alms 2.
c1430Lydg. Bochas iv. v. (1554) 103/b, They dempte it was an almesse dede To set theyr londe in quiet. 1519W. Horman Vulgaria, It is an almesdede to help the chevalry of Rhodes agaynst the Turkes. 1828Scott F.M. Perth III. 10 It were an alms deed to leave him there. |