alma

alma · noun¹

1. Arabic · derived fromعَالِمَة“a singer”
2. English todayalma

From colloquial Arabic عَالِمَة (ʕālima, “a singer”), originally a feminine adjective meaning learned, knowledgeable, from عَلِمَ (ʕalima, “to know”).

Alma · proper noun²

1. Germanic · derived from
2. Latin · derived fromalma“nourishing, kind”
3. English todayAlma

Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia.

Words from the same roots