Charity. World English Historical Dictionary

Charity. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Charity Forms: α. 2 carited, kariteþ, -teð; β. 2–6 charite, cherite, 4–5 cheryte, 4–6 charyte, charitee, 4–7 charitie, 4– charity. [Two early types of this word appear in Eng.: (1) cariteð, -teþ, (2) charité; these are adoptions respectively of ONF. caritedh, -tet(þ), (later, and mod.Pic. carité), and the somewhat later central OF. charité (earlier charitet); which correspond to Pr. caritat, Sp. caridad, It. carità, semi-popular adaptations of L. cāritāt-em in its theological sense. In truly popular use L. cāritāt-em had already become, through pop. Lat. *cartāt-em, Pr. cartat, ONF. kierté, OF. chierté, mod.F. cherté. But this had the general Latin senses of ‘dearness (high price), fondness, affection,’ as well as those belonging specially to New Testament and Christian use; subsequently, to indicate the latter more distinctly, the Latin word, familiar in the language of the church, passed anew into popular use, and undergoing (from its later date) less phonetic change, gave caritat, caritet, charitet, charité. Mixture of the two forms gave the type cherité, and, in Eng. at least, the two words were not kept altogether distinct in use. See CHERTE.

1   The Greek word for ‘love’ in the N. T. (occasionally also in LXX) is ἀγάπη, from root of vb. ἀγαπά-ειν ‘to treat with affectionate regard,’ ‘to love’; in the Vulgate, ἀγάπη is sometimes rendered by dilectio (noun of action f. diligere to esteem highly, love), but most frequently by caritas, ‘dearness, love founded on esteem’ (never by amor). Wyclif and the Rhemish version regularly rendered the Vulgate dilectio by ‘love,’ caritas by ‘charity.’ But the 16th-c. Eng. versions from Tindale to 1611, while rendering ἀγάπη sometimes ‘love,’ sometimes ‘charity,’ did not follow the dilectio and caritas of the Vulgate, but used ‘love’ more often (about 86 times), confining ‘charity’ to 26 passages in the Pauline and certain of the Catholic Epistles (not in 1 John), and the Apocalypse, where the sense is specifically 1 c. below. In the Revised Version 1881, ‘love’ has been substituted in all these instances, so that it now stands as the uniform rendering of ἀγάπη, to the elimination of the distinction of dilectio and caritas introduced by the Vulgate, and of ‘love’ and ‘charity’ of the 16th-c. versions.]

2   1.  Christian love: a word representing caritas of the Vulgate, as a frequent rendering of ἀγάπη in N. T. Greek. With various applications: as

3   † a.  God’s love to man. (By early writers often identified with the Holy Spirit.) Obs.

4 c. 1200.  Ormin, 3000. & Godess Gast iss kariteþ & soþfasst lufe nemmnedd; & tatt wass all þurrh kariteþ & þurrh soþ lufe forþedd Þatt Godess sune Allmahtiȝ Godd Warrþ mann of Sannte Marȝe.

5 138[?].  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 509. Ȝoven of Crist of … his endeles charitee to mankinde. Ibid. (1382), Rom. viii. 39. The charite [Tindale, etc. love, Rhem. charitie] of God, that is in Jhesu Crist oure Lord.

6 1488.  Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 27. The whiche goodnes is god hymself for he ys all charyte.

7 1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 223. Be the merit of the same maist haly Passion the Charitie of God is powred forth in thair hartes.

8 [1839.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., IV. xxi. 363. Charity is but another name for the Comforter.]

9   † b.  Man’s love of God and his neighbor, commanded as the fulfilling of the Law, Matt. xxii. 37, 39. Obs.

10 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 39. Hwet is riht cherite … þet þu luuie þine drihten ofer … alle eorðliche þing … and seoðdan beoden uwilc mon swa þu waldest þet me þe bude, þis is riht cherite.

11 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 21. Ic clepie and bidde for ðo muchele kariteð ðe is an ȝeu.

12 c. 1315.  Shoreham, 3. That man lovye God and man, Ase charité hyt hoteth.

13 1488.  Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 27. In goodnes of charyte is a bonde of loue the whiche draeth us to god.

14 1547.  Homilies, I. Charity, II. (1859), 69. Charity stretcheth itself both to God and man, friend and foe.

15 1552.  Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 42. Quhate is cherite? It is lufe, quharby we lufe God for his awin saik … and our neichbour for Gods saik, or in God.

16 1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Rev. ii. 4. Neuerthelesse, I haue somwhat agaynst thee, because thou hast left thy fyrst charitie. [So Wyclif, and Rhemish: Geneva 1560 ‘love.’]

17 1643.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 14. This I think charity, to love God for himselfe, and our neighbours for God.

18 1846.  Keble, in Plain Serm., VIII. ccxli. Charity—the true love of God in Christ … ensures the practice of all other virtues.

19   c.  esp. The Christian love of our fellow-men; Christian benignity of disposition expressing itself in Christ-like conduct: one of the ‘three Christian graces,’ fully described by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xiii.

20   (One of the chief current senses in devotional language, though hardly otherwise without qualification as ‘Christian charity,’ etc. In the Revised Version, the word has disappeared, and love has been substituted.)

21 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10043. Cherite [v.r. cheryte, charite] euer fordos envie.

22 1382.  Wyclif, 1 Cor. viii. 1. Sothli science, or kunnynge, inblowith with pride: charite edifieth. Ibid., xiii. 13. Nowe forsothe dwellen feith, hope, and charite, thes thre; forsoth the mooste of thes is charite.

23 c. 1450.  Lay-Folks Mass-Bk., 308. Haue cherité with herte fyne … That eche man loue wel othere.

24 1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xx. 318. Some tell vs that Religion is nothing els but charitie, that is to say, the performing of a mans duetie towards his neighbour.

25 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 261. ’Twere good you do so much for charitie. Iew. I cannot finde it, ’tis not in the bond.

26 1628.  Earle, Microcosm. (Arb.), 63. A Shee precise Hypocrite … Shee is so taken vp with Faith, shee ha’s no roome for Charity.

27 1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 483. The charity of the Gospel should extend to men of every Religion.

28 1845.  R. Jebb, in Encycl. Metrop. (1847), II. 709/1. The law of charity does not require me to have a greater regard for him than for myself. But, on the other hand, the same law requires that I should not have a less.

29   d.  In this sense often personified in poetic language, painting, sculpture, etc.

30 c. 1300.  Deus Caritas, 33, in E. E. P. (1862), 127. Let Charite nou a-wake, And do hit þer neode is.

31 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VIII. 45. Charite þe champioun chief help aȝein synne.

32 1726.  Thomson, Winter, 354. The conscious heart of Charity would warm.

33 17[?].  Han. More, Ode Charity. O Charity, divinely wise, Thou meek-ey’d Daughter of the skies!

34 c. 1850.  G. Rorison, Hymn to Trinity. Lift on us thy Light Divine: And let charity benign Breathe on us her balm.

35   e.  In, out of, charity: in or out of the Christian state of charity, or love and right feeling towards one’s fellow Christians.

36 c. 1382.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 274. A symple pater noster of a plouȝman þat his in charite is betre þan a thousand massis of coueitouse prelatis.

37 1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 38. He falleþ nat out of charite.

38 1455.  E. Clere, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 5. And he seith he is in charitee with all the world.

39 1519.  Horman, Vulg., xxiv. 201. I can nat be in charity with hym that holdeth wrongefully from me my landis.

40 1633.  Massinger, New Way, I. ii. I am out of charity With none so much as the thin-gutted squire.

41 1735.  Pope, Donne’s Sat., iv. 3. I die in charity with fool and knave.

42   f.  In various phrases: see the quotations.

43 a. 1240.  Ureisun, 161, in Cott. Hom., 199. Nu ich þe bi-seche ine cristes cherite.

44 c. 1250.  Hymn Virg., 19, in Trin. Coll. Hom., 258. Bisech þin sune par cherite þat he me sschilde from hello pin.

45 c. 1305.  Land Cokayne, ad fin. Prey we god so mote hit be. Amen, per seinte charite.

46 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 324. Levys me tharfor, par cheryte.

47 1461.  J. Paston, jr. in Lett., 410, II. 39. Besechyng yow for cheryte of your dayly blyssyng.

48 1575.  J. Still, Gamm. Gurton, IV. ii. Helpe me to my neede, for Gods sake, and Saint Charitie.

49 1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 247. Ah deare Lord, and sweete Saint Charitee [E. K. gloss., The Catholiques comen othe].

50 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 273. Peace, peace for shame: If not, for Charity. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., V. i. 273. Of charity, what kinne are you to me? Ibid. (1602), Ham., IV. v. 58. By gis, and by S. Charity, Alacke, and fie for shame.

51   2.  Without any specially Christian associations: Love, kindness, affection, natural affection: now esp. with some notion of generous or spontaneous goodness.

52   In Wyclif, repr. caritas of the Vulgate, which (like ἀγάπη, -ησις) is used very generally in the O. T. In other cases influenced perhaps by OF. chierté, L. caritas, or simply with generalized sense.

53 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 408. Cherite—þet is cherte of leoue þinge & of deore.

54 1382.  Wyclif, Jer. li. 2. Rewende thin waxende ȝouthe, and the charite of thi weddyng. Ibid., xxxi. 3. In euere lastende charite Y louede thee. Ibid., Hosea xi. 4. In litil boondis of Adam Y shal drawe hem, in boondis of charitee. Ibid., Rom. xii. 10. Louynge to gidere the charite of britherhed [Gr. τὴ φιλαδελφία].

55 c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, I. ix. (1544), 17 b. The king, the quene of Corinth, the country, Had the chylde in so great charitie.

56 1483.  Caxton, Cato, A viij b. Tulle sayth that emonge al other charite the charite of our contre ought to be loued and preferred before al othe[r] charitees.

57 1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 216. Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear?

58 1728.  Gay, Begg. Op., Introd. I cannot too often acknowledge your charity in bringing it upon the stage.

59 1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 54. I am one who requires to be treated with kindness and charity.

60   b.  pl. Affections; feelings or acts of affection.

61 1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 756. Relations dear, and all the Charities Of Father, Son, and Brother.

62 1784.  Cowper, Task, V. 507. Can he be strenuous in his country’s cause, Who slights the charities, for whose dear sake That country, if at all, must be belov’d?

63 1814.  Wordsw., Excurs., IX. 238. The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of Man—like flowers.

64 1818.  Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), II. 177. Cutting off her members from the charities of domestic life.

65   3.  A disposition to judge leniently and hopefully of the character, aims, and destinies of others, to make allowance for their apparent faults and shortcomings; large-heartedness. (But often it amounts barely to fair-mindedness towards people disapproved of or disliked, this being appraised as a magnanimous virtue.)

66   App. a restricted sense of 1 c., founded upon one of the special characteristics ascribed to Christian charity which ‘thinketh no evil’ 1 Cor. xiii. 6; cf. also 1 Pet. iv. 8 ‘Charity shall couer the multitude of sinnes.’

67 1483.  Caxton, Cato, 3. I … beseche alle suche that fynde faute or errour that of theyr charyte they correcte and amende hit.

68 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. I begon after my poore maner to wryte in latyn, but your charite preuayled and letted me.

69 1634.  Prynne, in Documents agst. Prynne (1877), 42. Your Lordship therefore might have in charity forborne to quarrel with my two syllogismes … till you had produced some better of your owne.

70 1682.  Dryden, Relig. Laici, 198. Charity bids hope the best.

71 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 390, ¶ 3. She has not the least Charity for any of her Acquaintance.

72 a. 1718.  Penn, Life, Wks. 1726, I. 137. Happy would it be, if where Unity ends, Charity did begin.

73 1857.  T. Hood, Jr., Pen & Penc. Pict., 125. We all want a little charity shown us sometimes.

74 1874.  Morley, Compromise (1886), 157. No charity nor goodwill can narrow the intellectual breach.

75   † b.  Fairness; equity. Obs.

76 c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, Prol. v. That their ground, with parfit charitie Conveyed be to their advauntage.

77 1496.  Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 6. [Certain foreign nations] have, contrarie to all lawe, reason, charite, right and conscience … made an ordinaunce … that noe Englishman resortyng to the seid Martes shall [etc.].

78 1647.  N. Bacon, Hist. Disc., iii. 8. In charity therefore the English Church in those daies must be of mean repute for outward pompe.

79   4.  Benevolence to one’s neighbors, especially to the poor; the practical beneficences in which this manifests itself.

80   a.  as a feeling or disposition; charitableness.

81 c. 1200.  Ormin, 1017. Till kariteþess hallȝhe mahht To wirken allmess werrkess. Ibid., 10120. Kariteþess mahhte Iss mikell all unnseȝȝeenndliȝ.

82 1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. xxviii. 649. The Iewes … now vpon the breaking vp of the Chaldæan Armie, repent them of their Charitie.

83 1691.  Hartcliffe, Virtues, 367. Their Temperance and Gratitude, their Justice and Fidelity, their Humanity and Charity.

84 1758.  Johnson, Idler, No. 4, ¶ 1. Charity, or tenderness for the poor … is, I think, only known to those who enjoy … the light of revelation.

85 1836.  Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 78. Charity—the only thing that we can give away without losing it.

86 1872.  E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. viii. 138. Mrs. Heron took the bairn out of charity.

87   b.  as manifested in action: spec. alms-giving. Applied also to the public provision for the relief of the poor, which has largely taken the place of the almsgiving of individuals.

88   [Some would explain quot. 1154 as hospitality, or ‘agape Christianorum, convivium quo amici vel etiam pauperes excipiuntur’ (Du Cange).]

89 1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. On al þis yuele time heold Martin abbot his abbotrice—& fand þe munekes & te gestes al þat heom behoued & heold micel carited in þe hus.

90 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 28919. When þou sall do þi charite [v.r. giues þi charite] … gif noght so largely till ane Þat þou may gif anoþer nane.

91 1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 271. To him that wrought charite He was ageinward charitous.

92 1530.  Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 12. To lyue of the charitee and almes of the people.

93 1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 61. Do poore Tom some charitie.

94 1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 119. Doing his Charity effectually, but with a possible privacy.

95 1737.  Pope, Hor. Epist., II. i. 231. The boys and girls whom charity maintains.

96 1863.  Bright, Sp. Amer., 16 June. A dependence upon the charity of their fellow countrymen.

97 1878.  Jevons, Prim. Pol. Econ., 10. All that the political economist insists upon is that charity shall be really charity, and shall not injure those whom it is intended to aid.

98 1884.  F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, i. 4. The poor thing has been living on charity.

99   c.  plural. Acts or works of charity to the poor.

100 1607.  Bacon, Ess. Riches (Arb.), 240. Deferre not Charities till Death.

101 c. 1818.  Campbell, Lines on Scene in Bavaria, xiv. If the wild winds seem more drear Than man’s cold charities below.

102 1870.  Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Farming, Wks. (Bohn), III. 57. He who devotes himself to charities.

103   5.  That which is given in charity; alms.

104   The phrase do one’s charity, in 4 b., easily passed into give one’s charity.

105 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19062. He þam be-heild, bot wel wend he Þai suld him giue sum charite. Petre said til him onan, ‘Gold ne siluer ha we nan.’

106 1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 167. Moni Chapeleyns … Chewen heore charite and chiden after more.

107 1608.  Shaks., Per., III. ii. 44. Your honour has through Ephesus pour’d forth Your charity.

108 1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, 190 (J.). She did ill then to refuse her a Charity in her Distress.

109 1697.  Dryden, Virgil, Ded. (J.). Though I never was reduc’d to beg a Charity,… you have both remember’d me.

110 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 117, ¶ 3. An old Woman applied herself to me for my Charity.

111 1877.  Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., viii. 222. An Archbishop … leading a panniered mule laden with charities.

112   6.  A bequest, foundation, institution, etc., for the benefit of others, esp. of the poor or helpless.

113   The term, especially under the influence of legislative enactments, such as the statute on charitable uses 43 Eliz. c. 4, and the various modern Charitable Trusts Acts, has received a very wide application; in general now including institutions, with all manner of objects, for the help of those who are unable to help themselves, maintained by settled funds or voluntary contributions; the uses and restrictions of the term are however very arbitrary, and vary entirely according to fancy or the supposed needs of the moment; chief among the institutions included are hospitals, asylums, foundations for educational purposes, and for the periodical distribution of alms.

114 1697.  Evelyn, Mem., 10 March. I went this evening to see … Christ’s Hospital … having never seen a more noble, pious and admirable charity.

115 1748.  Butler, 6 Serm. (1844), 308. In the first establishment of a public charity.

116 1788.  J. Powell, Devises (1827), II. 15. Lord Eldon lately held that Jews were properly excluded from the Bedford charity, consisting of a grammar school, &c.

117 1803.  Med. Jrnl., VIII. 538. Upon the recommendation of any one for relief by this Charity. Ibid., XV. 549. The advantages of medical charities have usually been confined in large towns.

118 1843.  Prescott, Mexico, VII. v. (1864), 454. With a fate not too frequent in similar charities, [it] has been administered to this day on the noble principles of its foundation.

119 1853.  Act 16 & 17 Vict., c. 137. To examine and inquire into all or any charities in England and Wales, and the nature and objects, administration, management, and results thereof [etc.].

120 1862.  Low (title), Account of Charities in London.

121   7.  A refreshment dispensed in a monastic establishment between meals; a bever. (App. only a modern rendering of med.L. charitas in sense of ‘quævis extraordinaria refectio, maxime illa quæ fiebat extra prandium et cœnam in Monasterio.’ Du Cange.)

122 1802–43.  Fosbroke, Brit. Monachism, iv. 31/2. They entered the refectory to receive their charities (cups of wine), while the Collation was reading. Ibid., xlviii. 264/2, note. These Charities did not consist of wine only … for we find a Charity, consisting of a sallad, seasoned with honey.

123   8.  A popular name of the plant ‘Jacob’s ladder,’ Polemonium cæruleum.

124 1741.  Compl. Fam.-Piece, I. i. 37. Add to your Buds Betony, Charity, Sanicle, the Tops of St. John’s-wort when blown.

125   9.  Phrases. a. Cold as charity: referring to the perfunctory, unfeeling manner in which acts of charity are often done, and public charities administered; (but cf. Matt. xxiv. 12). Charity begins at home: used to express the prior claims of the ties of family, friendship, etc., to a man’s consideration (cf. 1 Tim. v. 8, etc.).

126 1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxiv. 12. The charite of manye schal wexe coold. Ibid., Of Prelates, xi. Wks. (1880), 78. Hou schulde he þanne here hem for oþere men, whanne charite schuld bigyne at hem-self.

127 1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xxiv. 12. The charitie of many shal vvaxe cold.

128 1616.  Beaum. & Fl., Wit without M., V. ii. Charity and beating begins at home.

129 1642.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. iv. ’Tis the general complaint of these times, and perhaps of those past, that Charity grows cold. Ibid. Charity begins at home, is the voice of the world: yet is every man his greatest enemy.

130 1705.  Hickeringill, Priest-cr., I. (1721), 25. Though Charity should begin at home, it should not end at home.

131 1795.  Southey, Soldier’s Wife. Cold is thy heart and as frozen as Charity! Ibid. (1798), Eng. Eclog., v. But charity begins at home, And, Nat, there’s our own home in such a way This morning!

132 1865.  Trollope, Can you forgive her, xliii. The wind is as cold as charity. We are much more comfortable here.

133   b.  Brother or Sister of Charity: a member of a religious organization devoted to works of charity, of which several have at various times been founded.

134 1706.  trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 16th C., II. iv. xi. 450. The Brothers of Charity were instituted by St. John de Dieu.

135 1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lvii. Sisters of Charity … without the romance and the sentiment of sacrifice.

136 1881.  Lady Herbert, Edith, 247. The other person present was the Superior of the Sisters of Charity.

137   10.  attrib. and Comb. (all referring to 4–6), ‘given or devoted to the furtherance of a charitable object,’ as charity ball, land, money, sermon; ‘brought up in a charity-school or on a charitable foundation,’ as charity-boy, -child, -girl; charity-bred adj.; charity-bob (see BOB sb.4); charity-box, a money-box for collecting contributions to a charitable object; Charity Commission, Commissioners, a board created by the Charitable Trust Act of 1853 to control the administration of charitable trusts, with powers as to the management, re-organization, application, etc., of any of the funded charities; charity-house, a house or building devoted to a charitable object.

138 1882.  Life, 7 Dec., 1018/1. A grand *Charity Ball under the gracious Patronage of T.R.H. the Duke and Duchess of Connaught.

139 1782.  Burney, Hist. Mus., II. 72. They wait not till the plate or *charity-box is held out to them, but give freely and unsolicited.

140 1714.  Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1725), I. 306. Among the *charity-boys there are abundance of bad ones that swear and curse about. Ibid., 306. They bring up their *charity-children to handicrafts, as well as trades.

141 1838–9.  Dickens, O. Twist, 21/2. A big charity-boy.

142 1841.  Emerson, Ess., Ser. I. ii. (1876), 55. Let him not … skulk up and down with the air of a charity-boy.

143 a. 1845.  Hood, Tale of Trump., liv. Nay, happy the urchin—*Charity-bred.

144 1861.  Thackeray, Four Georges, iii. 140 (Hoppe). In all Christendom there is no such sight as *Charity Children’s Day [at St. Paul’s].

145 1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. iii. 395 (Hoppe). Solecisms and faults of spelling such as a *charity girl would now be ashamed to commit.

146 1758.  Massie (title), A plan for the Establishment of *Charity Houses for Exposed or Deserted Women and Girls.

147 1856.  Emerson, Eng. Traits, Land, Wks. (Bohn), II. 16. It [England] is stuffed full … with towns, towers, churches, villas, palaces, hospitals, and charity-houses.

148 1887.  Hazell, Ann. Cycl., 87/2. The secretary to the [Charity] Commission for the time being is a corporation sole, by the name of ‘The Official Trustee of *Charity Lands.’

149 1711.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), VI. 695. There was remaining … of the *charity money gathered … upwards of 2000l.

150 1840.  Malcolm, Trav., 32/1. I regretted to see so much charity-money bestowed on Portuguese schools.

151 1700.  R. Holland (title), The Good Samaritan; a *Charity Sermon.

152 1817.  Syd. Smith, Lett., cxxiii. I am going to preach a charity sermon next Sunday.

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