Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old French
Origin: charité, from Late Latin caritas 'Christian love', from Latin carus 'dear'

charity

 noun
     
char‧i‧ty S2 W3 plural charities
1 [countable] an organization that gives money, goods, or help to people who are poor, sick etc [↪ charitable]:
Several charities sent aid to the flood victims.
charity event/walk/concert etc (=an event organized to collect money for a charity)
2 [uncountable] charity organizations in general:
All the money raised by the concert will go to charity.
for charity
The children raised over £200 for charity.
3 [uncountable] money or gifts given to help people who are poor, sick etc:
refugees living on charity
Her pride wouldn't allow her to accept charity.
4 [uncountable] formal kindness or sympathy that you show towards other people:
Mother Teresa's works of charity
Newspaper reports showed him little charity.
5

charity begins at home

a phrase meaning that you should take care of your own family, country etc before you help other people
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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