Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

almshouse

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.05 in modern English

Syllables: almshouse
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

1

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A building of residence for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish. Originally founded by the Church, and usually funded by charitable donations.

Example Sentences

"Much they saw, and far they went, and many homes they visited, but always with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on foreign lands, and they were close at home; by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich. In almshouse, hospital, and jail, in misery's every refuge, where vain man in his little brief authority had not made fast the door, and barred the Spirit out, he left his blessing, and taught Scrooge his precepts."

Etymology

From Middle English almeshous, almassehous, equivalent to alms + house.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: almeshous

Inflected Forms

almshouses (plural) alms-house (alternative)

Synonyms

poorhouse

Questions

What does almshouse mean?: A building of residence for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish. Originally founded by the Church, and usually funded by charitable donations.
Where does almshouse come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce almshouse

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