Eleemosyne
/ˌɛliˈmɒsɪni/noun
Mercy or charitable giving, especially alms.
Did you know?Eleemosyne entered English through medieval Latin, and its Greek root is tied to compassion rather than magic—showing how charity itself was once treated like a moral power.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosynē)
“Compassion, pity, almsgiving.”
Late Latin
Latin
eleemosyna
“Alms, charity, charitable gift.”
Old French
Old French
eleemosine
“Alms-giving; charitable donation.”
Middle English
English
eleemosyne
“Almsgiving, charity.”
Modern English
English
eleemosynary
“Relating to charity or alms.”
Explore more surprising origins