charity English · revision 5115

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1137|origins=la caritas}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈtʃær.ɪ.ti/, /ˈtʃær.ə.ti/, US /ˈtʃer.ə.t̬i/, /ˈtʃær.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|charite]], [[bor|fro|charité]], earlier Old Northern French carité,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|cāritās|t=costliness; esteem, affection]], from cārus “dear, valued”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*keh₂-|alt=*ka-|t=to like, desire]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[caress]] and [[cherish]], and, more distantly, to [[whore]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Loving-kindness and almsgiving: 1137, as carited, in the Peterborough Chronicle, according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The OED has Christian love of God and one's neighbour from about 1175.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Vulgate caritas often translated Greek agápē “love”, and English Bibles from Tyndale to 1611 used both love and charity for it, until the Revised Version of 1881 used love throughout.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The general sense of love, kindness or affection is from before 1225,^(OED 1989) and a lenient disposition in judging others from 1483.^(OED 1989) Giving to the poor came from the idea that helping the needy is part of Christian love,^(Cresswell 2021) and a charitable foundation followed.^(Etymonline) ''Charity begins at home'' is a saying.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1137 – carited, almsgiving.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1175 – Christian love.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1225 – kindness, affection.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1483 – leniency in judging others.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An organization that collects money to help people in need.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Help, especially money, given to the poor or sick.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Kindness and tolerance in judging others.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Christianity)'' Love of God and of one's fellow human beings.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[charityless]]

+ * [[chugger]]

+ * [[Sister of Charity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[charitable]]

+ * [[caress]]

+ * [[cherish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}