charity
UK[ˈtʃærəti]US[ˈtʃærəti]
n
An organization that helps people in need, for example by providing money, food, or medical care.
n
Kindness and sympathy that you show towards other people, especially when you judge them less severely.
n
Money, food, or other help given to people who are in need.
Morpheme Breakdown
char
ity
char
dear
ity
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'charity' entered English via Old French charité, which itself descended from Latin caritas, meaning 'dearness, high price, affection, esteem'. The Latin root is carus (dear, beloved). This etymological journey reveals a profound semantic shift from a concrete sense of costliness and personal fondness to the abstract Christian virtue of altruistic love (caritas), and finally to its modern secular meanings encompassing organized benevolence and lenient judgment. The core logic connects the high value placed on a beloved person to the act of generously bestowing value (aid, forgiveness) upon others.
Analysis
Structure: char (dear) + ity (noun suffix)
- 'char' originates from Latin carus (dear, beloved, valued). In this word, it functions as the core root conveying the sense of affection and high regard.
- 'ity' is a noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-itas), used to create abstract nouns indicating a state or condition.
Examples
She donated a large sum to a children's charity.
He showed great charity in his assessment of their mistakes.
The refugees survived on charity until they could find work.