eleëmosynary

Adjective

eleemosynary (comparative more eleemosynary, superlative most eleemosynary)

1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving.
   • I am bound to say he didn't criticise his benefactors, though practically he got tired of them; she, however, had the highest standards about eleemosynary forms.1894, Henry James, The Coxon Fund
2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms
   • An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I
3. Supported by charity
   • ... it is also true that the policy of nations, or the bounty of individuals, formerly did much to counteract the effect of this limitation of competition, by offering eleemosynary instruction to a much larger class of persons than could have obtained the same advantages by paying their price.1871, John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy, p. 482

See all 4 meanings of eleemosynary