What does almsman mean?
An almsman is a man who subsists on alms — that is, on money, food, or other necessities given voluntarily out of charity rather than earned through labour. The term belongs chiefly to the vocabulary of earlier centuries, when giving to the poor was organised through churches, monasteries, guilds, and endowed almshouses, and when formal language distinguished those who gave (almoners) from those who received (almsmen). In literature and historical records, calling someone an almsman signals genuine destitution and dependence: he has no independent means and relies wholly on the generosity of others or on charitable endowments. The feminine form 'almswoman' exists but is seldom encountered. Today the word survives mainly in historical writing, legal documents concerning old charitable trusts, and literary works set in past eras. Its rarity gives it a distinctly archaic flavour, making it useful to writers seeking period authenticity, though modern English would more naturally speak simply of a beggar, a pauper, or a beneficiary of charity.
nounA man who lives on alms; a male recipient of charitable donations, especially one dependent on the charity of others for his livelihood.
- A man who lives on alms or depends on charitable giving for his sustenance.
- (Historical) A man formally maintained by an almshouse or religious institution as an object of endowed charity.
"The old almsman made his way to the abbey gate each morning, grateful for whatever bread was given."
"Having lost his trade and his savings, he lived out his last years as an almsman of the parish."
"The will provided lodging and a small stipend for twelve aged almsmen attached to the hospital."
The plural follows the irregular '-men' pattern common to compounds ending in '-man'.
"The endowment supported six almsmen in cottages beside the chapel."
Every act of medieval charity had two roles — the almoner gave, and the almsman received; today only the giver's title survives in common use.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of almsman
Almsman combines 'alms' with the agent suffix '-man', and follows the path of 'alms' itself: from Greek 'eleēmosynē' (mercy, compassion) via Latin 'eleemosyna' into Old English as 'ælmesse', before settling into the modern form. The compound arose in Middle English to denote a man supported by such charitable gifts. It shares this Greek root with related terms such as 'almoner', 'almshouse', and 'eleemosynary'.
How almsman is actually used
The word is now rare and largely confined to historical, literary, or legal contexts describing pre-modern charity systems. It carries connotations of poverty and dependence, and its counterpart term 'almswoman' exists but is even rarer.
Easily confused with almsman
An almoner is the person who distributes alms, whereas an almsman is the person who receives them.