† ἐλεημοσύνη, -ης, ἡ
(< ἐλεέω), [in LXX chiefly for חֶסֶד, צְדָקָה;]
1. mercy, pity.
2. almsgiving, alms (like the German Almosen, a corruption of the Greek word ἐ): Mt 6:4; ποιεῖν ἐ., Mt 6:2, 3, Ac 9:3610:224:17; ἐ. διδόναι, Lk 11:41 (cf. Mt 23:36; Dalman, Words, 62 f.) 12:33; αἰτεῖν, Ac 3:2; λαβεῖν, Ac 3:3; πρὸς (in order to ask) ἐ., Ac 3:10; pl., Ac 10:4, 31 (Cremer, 711).†