a. and sb. Also 7–8 elemo-, eleemo-, -sin-, -sn-, -sunary. [ad. med.L. eleēmosynārius, f. eleēmosyna: see ALMS.]

1

  A.  adj.

2

  1.  Of or pertaining to alms or almsgiving; charitable. Eleemosynary House, Corporation, one established for the distribution of alms, etc.

3

c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 293 (1810), 302. These her eleemosinary acts … are almost vanished.

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1695.  Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 659. The Elemosinary House or Hospital for the maintenance of two Capellanes.

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1702.  in Lond. Gaz., No. 3812/1. Divers Persons to whom Eleemosinary Protections were granted.

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1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), I. ii. 80. The blind eleemosynary spirit inculcated by the Romish church is notoriously the cause, not the cure, of beggary and wretchedness.

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1865.  H. Staunton, Grt. Schools Eng., Dulwich, 502. Three [portions] are assigned to the Educational, and one to the Eleemosynary branch.

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  2.  Dependent on or supported by alms.

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1654.  G. Goddard, in Burton, Diary (1828), I. Introd. 65. If we be a mere elemosynary Parliament we are bound to do his drudgery.

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1667.  H. More, Div. Dial., III. xxxii. (1713), 264. Is not the whole world the Alms-house of God-Almighty … [in] which he had a right … to place us his eleemosynary Creatures?

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1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 353. There is a sort of Spunging, elemosinary Travellers.

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1860.  Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, I. vi. 70–1. Threw forth … food, for the flock of eleemosynary doves.

13

  3.  Of the nature of alms; given or done as an act of charity; gratuitous.

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a. 1620.  J. Dyke, Sel. Serm. (1640), 348. God will not have the Ministery of the Word eleemosynary, to be matter of meere almes.

15

1791.  Boswell, Johnson (1831), 46. An eleemosynary supply of shoes.

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1849.  C. Brontë, Shirley, II. v. 121. Eleemosynary relief never yet tranquillized the working classes.

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1859.  I. Taylor, Logic in Theol., 246. We have nothing now to do either with eleemosynary, or with under-class education.

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  b.  Law. Given in ‘free alms.’ See ALMOIGNE.

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1671.  F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 440. Baronies … given in Frank Almoigne and as Elemosinary.

20

  † B.  sb. Obs.

21

  1.  One who lives upon alms; a beggar. Also fig.

22

1642.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., 115–6. Those professed Eleemosynaries … place their petitions on a few and selected persons.

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1665.  Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., xviii. 112. That the cause should be an Eleemosynary for its subsistence to its effect.

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1673.  H. Stubbe, Further Justif. War Netherl., To Rdr. 3. They say the Parlamentarians were their Eleemosynaries.

25

  2.  = ALMONER. rare.

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1656.  Blount, Glossogr., Eleemosynary, an almoner, or one that gives alms.

27

1678.  in Phillips.

28

1809.  Bawdwen, Domesday Bk., 458. Robert the Priest had one carucate of land of the King’s Eleemosinary.

29

  3.  = ALMONRY [ad. med.L. eleēmosynārium].

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1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 43/1. [In] The Almonry [pr. Almoury], or Eleemosinary … [are] 4 Yeomen.

31

1775.  in Ash.

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  Hence Eleemosynarily adv., in an eleemosynary manner; charitably, by way of charity.

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