Eleemosynary

This tracks back to a Greek word meaning pity. The Greek word ἐλεημοσύνη [eleemosyne], an expansion of the shorter word, meant compassionateness. The modern sense pertains to an act motivated by charity.

The word alms is inextricably bound up in the word eleemosynary. It signified a dependence on alms for survival. In Old English, alms was spelled aelmysse, making the connection with the original Greek more obvious.

The word pittance now means a very small or inadequate amount of something, but originally, it, too, was connected to the word alms. Originally, it was alms in the form of food given to monks or paupers—the product of pity.

Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition

Check out Mike's program-based books here:
Amazon.com

Listen to Mike’s program in real time every Tuesday morning, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST, by going to wtcmradio.com and clicking on Listen Now.

There is a collection of podcasts. Go to wtcmradio.com and click on Podcasts. Scroll down The Ron Jolly Show to find the Words to the Wise audio button.

Visit The Senior Corner at seniors.tcnet.org