A person who gives money or food to poor people to help them.
From Old English 'alms' (charity given to the poor, from Greek 'eleemosyne') + 'giver' (one who gives). The word evolved in medieval times when charitable giving was a moral and religious duty.
Almsgiversappear throughout history as markers of social status—in ancient Rome, wealthy citizens gave alms to gain prestige, while in medieval Europe, it was tied to Christian salvation. The concept shows how societies have always had wealthy people demonstrate virtue through generosity.
Almsgiver traditionally referenced male donors and benefactors; wealthy women who funded charity historically received less documented credit despite significant patronage roles.
Use 'charity donor' or 'philanthropist' for gender neutrality. When discussing historical figures, explicitly name women donors to restore visibility.
["charity donor","philanthropist","benefactor"]
Women were substantial alms-givers and charity patrons throughout history, from medieval widows controlling estates to modern philanthropists, yet male-coded terminology obscured their contributions.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.