charity

plural charities

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

   give to charity

   4 more examples

   ‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”.[…]’.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   The event raised money for local charities.

   He donated half his earnings to charity.

   registered charity

2. countableThe goods or money given to those in need, or the act of doing it.

   Synonyms: dole

3. uncountableBenevolence to the less fortunate; the providing of goods or money to those in need.

   act of charity

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

   July 20, 1677, John Mitchell Mason, letter to a friend Judge thyself with the judgment of sincerity, and thou witl judge others with the judgment of charity.

   1 more example

   You go fuck yourself. You think I'm in this for charity?

   1980, Paul Schrader, American Gigolo, spoken by Leon (Bill Duke)

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

   Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

   Synonyms: agape

6. PhilippinesUScountableinformaluncountableball gamesA free throw.

1. A female given name from English.

   By Gis and by Saint Charity, / Alack, and fie for shame!

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   2 more examples

   Never did any woman better deserve her name, which was Charity — Aunt Charity, as everybody called her. And like a sister of charity did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle about hither and thither, ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield safety, comfort, and consolation to all on board a ship in which her beloved brother Bildad was concerned, and in which she herself owned a score or two of well-saved dollars.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 20, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   Tessa giggled. 'What a dreadful name! Is she really called Charity?' 'Yes. She really is.' Mark recalled how glorious the name of Charity had sounded to him in the beginning. 'It's not her fault she's called Charity,' he added defensively.

   1989, Ann Oakley, The Men's Room, Atheneum, →ISBN, page 223

2. The 107th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.