Char"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Charities (#). [F. charité fr. L.
caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus
dear, costly, loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf.
Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf.
Caress.]
1. Love; universal benevolence; good
will.
Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three;
but the greatest of these is charity.
1. Cor. xiii. 13.
They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose
hearts the great charities . . . lie dead.
Ruskin.
With malice towards none, with charity for
all.
Lincoln.
2. 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.
The highest exercise of charity is
charity towards the uncharitable.
Buckminster.
3. Liberality to the poor and the
suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes;
generosity.
The heathen poet, in commending the charity
of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian.
Dryden.
4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on
the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of
kindness.
She did ill then to refuse her a
charity.
L'Estrange.
5. A charitable institution, or a gift to
create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's
charity.
6. pl. (Law) Eleemosynary
appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or
friendless, education, religious culture, and public
institutions.
The charities that soothe, and heal, and
bless,
Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers.
Wordsworth.
Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a
sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in
nursing the sick; -- a popular designation. There are various
orders of the Sisters of Charity.
Syn. -- Love; benevolence; good will; affection;
tenderness; beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.
