Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Eleemosynary

Elˊee-mos′y-na-ry

(?; 277)
,
Adj.
[LL.
eleemosynarius
, fr.
eleemosyna
alms, Gr. [GREEK] alms. See
Alms
.]
1.
Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity;
as, an
eleemosynary
corporation
.
2.
Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms;
as,
eleemosynary
assistance
.
Eleemosynary cures.”
Boyle.
3.
Supported by charity;
as,
eleemosynary
poor
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Eleemosynary

ELEEMOS'YNARY

,
Adj.
[Gr. alms, to pity, compassion.]
1.
Given in charity; given or appropriated to support the poor; as eleemosynary rents or taxes.
2.
Relating to charitable donations; intended for the distribution of alms, or for the use and management of donations, whether for the subsistence of the poor or for the support and promotion of learning; as an eleemosynary corporation. A hospital founded by charity is an eleemosynary institution for the support of the poor, sick and impotent; a college founded by donations is an eleemosynary institution for the promotion of learning. The corporation entrusted with the care of such institutions is eleemosynary.

ELEEMOS'YNARY

,
Noun.
One who subsists on charity.

Definition 2024


eleëmosynary

eleëmosynary

See also: eleemosynary

English

Adjective

eleëmosynary (comparative more eleëmosynary, superlative most eleëmosynary)

  1. Rare spelling of eleemosynary.
    • 1853, Oxford University Commission, The North American Review, April 1853, page 384
      University Professorships are founded in connection with these eleëmosynary halls.
    • 1856, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Outre-mer: A Pilgrimage Beyond the Sea, page 58:
      He was led about by a brisk, middle-aged woman, in straw hat and wooden shoes; and a little barefooted boy, with clear, blue eyes and flaxen hair, held a tattered hat in his hand, in which he collected eleëmosynary sous.
    • 1900, Eustace Alfred Reynolds-Ball, Paris in Its Splendor, page 41:
      The following statistics, for which I am indebted to that encyclopædic storehouse of practical information, Baedeker’s “Paris”, will give the reader some idea of the importance of the eleëmosynary work undertaken by the sub-committee (Assistance Publique) of the council entrusted with the administration of the Paris hospitals: “The twenty hospitals of Paris have an aggregate of upwards of twelve thousand beds. The number of patients annually discharged includes forty-five to fifty thousand men, thirty-six to forty thousand women, and sixteen to eighteen thousand children; the average annual deaths in the hospitals include about seven []
    • 2005 May 25, “The Tensor”, Tenser, said the Tensor: Diaeresis Defense:
      Over at the Volokh Conspiracy, Eugene Volokh posts about a linguistic, or at least orthographic, advocacy group:
      Diaeresis Defense, an eleëmosynary reëducation coöperative.
      Favorite artists: The Brontës.
      Least favorite artists (winners of Diaeresis Defense’s “Ersatz Dieresis Award”): Mötley Crüe.
      Slogan: “Two vowels, two sounds, two dots”.
      I believe the proper expression is “heh”. Er, assuming he’s kidding, of course []
    • 2006 May 5, “John Woodgate”, sci.lang.translation (Google group): Albanian words for eyebrow:
      Like the RC priest who was responsible for Knock airport, she was not above using ‘interesting’ methods to fulfil eleëmosynary ambitions.

References

  1. eleemosynary, a. and n.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, second edition (1989)