Definitions for charity
ˈtʃær ɪ tichar·i·ty

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. charitynoun

   a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)

2. charity, brotherly lovenoun

   a kindly and lenient attitude toward people

3. charitynoun

   an activity or gift that benefits the public at large

4. Jacob's ladder, Greek valerian, charity, Polemonium caeruleum, Polemonium van-bruntiae, Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiaenoun

   pinnate-leaved European perennial having bright blue or white flowers

5. charitynoun

   an institution set up to provide help to the needy

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. charitynoun

   Christian love; representing God's love of man, man's love of God, or man's love of his fellow-men.

2. charitynoun

   In general, an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, now especially suggesting generosity.

   Judge thyself with the judgment of sincerity, and thou will judge others with the judgment of charity. uE000163396uE001 John Mitchell Mason

3. charitynoun

   Benevolence to others less fortunate than ourselves; the providing of goods or money to those in need.

4. charitynoun

   The goods or money given to those in need.

5. charitynoun

   An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable purpose.

6. Charitynoun

   A female given name from English.

7. Charitynoun

   The 107th sura of the Qur'an.

8. Etymology: From charity in the Biblical sense of Christian love; first used by Puritans. In early Christian tradition, Faith, Hope and Charity were the martyred daughters of Saint Sophia. The names, taken from 1 Corinthians 13:13 ("And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity") have been translated and used in many languages.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. CHARITYnoun

   Etymology: charité, Fr. charitas, Lat.

   1. Tenderness; kindness; love.

   By thee,
   Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
   Relations dear, and all the charities
   Of father, son, and brother, first were known. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. iv. l. 756.

   2. Goodwill; benevolence; disposition to think well of others.

   My errours, I hope, are only those of charity to mankind, and such as my own charity has caused me to commit, that of others may more easily excuse. John Dryden, Religio Laici, Preface.

   3. The theological virtue of universal love.

   Concerning charity, the final object whereof is that incomprehensible beauty which shineth in the countenance of Christ, the Son of the living God. Richard Hooker, b. i. p. 38.

   Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity. ——
   —— Urge neither charity nor shame to me;
   Uncharitably with me have you dealt. William Shakespeare, Richard III.

   Only add
   Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith;
   Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
   By name to come call’d charity, the soul
   Of all the rest. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. xii. l. 584.

   Faith believes the revelations of God; hope expects his promises; charity loves his excellencies and mercies. Taylor.

   But lasting charity ’s more ample sway,
   Nor bound by time, nor subject to decay,
   In happy triumph shall for ever live. Matthew Prior.

   Charity, or a love of God, which works by a love of our neighbour, is greater than faith or hope. Francis Atterbury.

   4. Liberality to the poor.

   The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spoke like a christian. John Dryden, Fables, Dedicat.

   5. Alms; relief given to the poor.

   We must incline to the king; I will look for him, and privily relieve him; go you and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived. William Shakespeare, K. Lear.

   The ant did well to reprove the grasshopper for her slothfulness; but she did ill then to refuse her a charity in her distress. Roger L'Estrange.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Charitynoun

   love; universal benevolence; good will

2. Charitynoun

   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

3. Charitynoun

   liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity

4. Charitynoun

   whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness

5. Charitynoun

   a charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity

6. Charitynoun

   eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Charity

   In Christian theology charity, latin caritas, is by Thomas Aquinas understood as "the friendship of man for God", which "unites us to God". He holds it as "the most excellent of the virtues". Further, Aquinas holds that "the habit of charity extends not only to the love of God, but also to the love of our neighbor". Some delineate charity to mean only benevolent giving, while others, such as Roman Catholics, have multiple interrelated meanings.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Charity

   char′i-ti, n. (N.T.) universal love: the disposition to think favourably of others, and do them good: almsgiving: (pl.) affections.—adj. Char′itable, of or relating to charity: liberal to the poor.—n. Char′itableness.—adv. Char′itably.—Cold as charity, an ironical phrase implying the coldness of much so-called charity, which should naturally be warm. [Fr. charité—L. caritat-em, carus, dear.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(1.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. charity

   1. A thing that begins at home, and usually stays there. 2. Bracing up Ralph Waldo Emerson's reputation by attributing to him literary mousetraps which he should have made, but didn't. (See Cheese.)

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. charity

   Song lyrics by charity -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by charity on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Benevolence
   • Foundation
   • Giving
   • Institution
   • Polemonium
   • Theological Virtue

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'charity' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2911

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'charity' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2981

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'charity' in Nouns Frequency: #1026

How to pronounce charity?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say charity in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of charity in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of charity in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of charity in a Sentence

1. Clare Boothe Luce:

   Censorship, like charity, should begin at home, but unlike charity, it should end there.

2. The Talmud:

   Rather skin a carcass for pay in the public streets than be idly dependent on charity.

3. The Argentinian:

   That's something you'll have to ask them, i love working with Harry with the charity, to be able to give back.

4. Federico Lombardi:

   The Pope's works of charity for the poor are certainly one of the essential uses, but is certainly not the intention of the faithful to exclude the possibility that the Pope himself may evaluate situations of urgency and the way of responding, in the light of his service for the good of the universal Church, the Pope's service also includes the Roman Curia, as an instrument of his service.

5. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia:

   “Always be guided by your heart rather than by your head, and your life will be transformed. Happiness does not consist in living in a palace or enjoying a large fortune; these can be lost. True happiness is something that neither men nor events can take from you. You will find it in Faith, in Hope and in Charity. Try to make those around you happy, and you will be happy yourself.”

Popularity rank by frequency of use