English
eleemosynous
Eleemosynous comes from Latin eleēmosyna ‘alms’, from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη ‘pity, mercy’, and ultimately from ἔλεος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεοςéleos‘pity, mercy, compassion’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέωeleéō‘to have pity on, take pity on, show mercy to’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεήμωνeleḗmōn‘pitiful, merciful’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē‘pity, mercy’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEeleēmosyna‘alms’
- Englishtodayeleemosynous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεοςéleos‘pity, mercy, compassion’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέωeleéō‘to have pity on, take pity on, show mercy to’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεήμωνeleḗmōn‘pitiful, merciful’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē‘pity, mercy’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEeleēmosyna‘alms’
- Englishtodayeleemosynous
Formed from -ous
Linked words
through Ancient Greek ἐλεήμων ‘pitiful, merciful’
through Latin eleēmosyna ‘alms’
Today it means
adj Of a gift or donation: made as an act of charity or almsgiving; charitable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἔλεος / eleemosynous