Charity is giving help—especially money, goods, or time—to people who are poor, sick, or in trouble. It can also refer to organizations that exist to provide this kind of help.
“Charity” comes from Old French “charité” and Latin “caritas,” meaning “love” or “affection.” In religious texts, it originally meant a deep, selfless love, which later narrowed into the idea of helping the needy.
Charity used to mean the highest form of love, not just dropping coins in a box. When people talk about “charity begins at home,” they’re really saying deep, caring love starts with the people closest to you. The money part came later as a visible way to show that love.
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