From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Alms \Alms\ ([add]mz), n. sing. & pl. [OE. almes, almesse, AS.
[ae]lmysse, fr. L. eleemosyna, Gr. 'elehmosy`nh mercy,
charity, alms, fr. 'eleei^n to pity. Cf. Almonry,
Eleemosynary.]
Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money,
food, or clothing; a gift of charity.
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A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people.
--Acts x. 2.
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Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. --Dryden.
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Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. --Blackstone.
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Note: This word alms is singular in its form (almesse), and
is sometimes so used; as, "asked an alms." --Acts iii.
3. "Received an alms." --Shak. It is now, however,
commonly a collective or plural noun. It is much used
in composition, as almsgiver, almsgiving, alms bag,
alms chest, etc.
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