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.

   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.

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

   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.

3. charitynoun

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

   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.

4. charitynoun

   The goods or money given to those in need.

   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.

5. charitynoun

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

   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.

6. Charitynoun

   A female given name from English.

   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.

7. Charitynoun

   The 107th sura of the Qur'an.

   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.

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

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

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. Chuku Abali:

   But if we continue to run on charity, we will fold. Things have to be paid for.

2. German proverb:

   Charity sees the need not the cause.

3. Ahmed Moosa:

   The late Mr. Archie Augustine (a Roman Catholic) from Estcourt, Kwa Zulu Natal put it beautifully when he said the following about the Qur’an: “Despite your religious or non-religious attitudes, the Holy Qur’aan is a boon to your intellectual and moral strength. Even if you are not concerned with moral issues, then pamper your intellectual curiosity and read the Qur’aan. The greater the level of your education, in any field, or the greater your social or political standing in your community, the more reason why you should procure your own copy of the Book and begin to read it”. “Nothing, but nothing, is left ambiguous or unanswered. It is a Book of Law interwoven in morality till it touches every facet of the human experience. It includes politics, economics, moral behaviour, personal cleanliness and propriety, inter-family relationships, bequests and inheritance, inter-religious respect and tolerance, charity, the sin of taking and of giving commercial interest, the importance of prayer, the belief in ONE GOD, religious-sociology and oneness of humankind. Bring any manner or word, concept or subject matter to mind and you will find, not only a reference to such a matter, but a treatise, succinctly and poignantly illustrating, advising, illuminating and directing”. A POEM ON THE HOLY QURAN WRITTEN SOME 35 YEARS AGO BY THE NINTH PRESIDENT OF INDIA, DR. PANDIT SHANKER DAYAL SHARMA: (IT WAS A COMMAND FOR ACTION. YOU TURNED IT INTO A BOOK OF PRAYER.) (IT WAS A BOOK TO UNDERSTAND. YOU READ IT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING.) (IT WAS A CODE FOR THE LIVING. YOU TURNED IT INTO A MANIFESTO OF THE DEAD.) (THAT WHICH WAS A BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE; YOU ABDICATED TO THE IGNORAMUS). (IT CAME TO GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF CREATION. YOU ABANDONED IT TO THE MADRASA.) (IT CAME TO GIVE LIFE TO DEAD NATIONS. YOU USED IT FOR SEEKING MERCY FOR THE DEAD.) (O’ MUSLIMS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?)

4. Clarence Darrow:

   Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.

5. Ehsan Sehgal:

   Living for others is a charity of life; it is a path of sacred ones.

Images & Illustrations of charity

Popularity rank by frequency of use