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(), n.; pl. Charities (). [F. charit fr. L. caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf. Caress.] 1. Love; universal benevolence; good will. Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Cor. xiii. 13. They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin. With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln. 2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and actions of others. The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable. Buckminster. 3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity. The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. Dryden. 4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or s スポンサード リンク
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