almond 
almond (ii'mond or al'mond), n. [Early mod. 
E. also amdnd, < ME. "alinonde, almunde, al- 
mounde, almaunde, almandc, etc., < OF. aliiiiiiuli-, 
earlier alemande, alemandre, alemandle, also 
amande, mod. F. amande = Pr. amandola = Sp. 
almcndra = Pg. amendoa = It. mandorla, man- 
dola (the al- for orig. a-, in E., OF., and Sp., be- 
ing due prob. to confusion with the Ar. art., or 
perhaps with the word Almain, German) = D. 
amandel = OHG. mandala, MHG. G. mandel = 
Dan. Sw. mandcl = Russ. mindalina, dim., < ML. 
amandola, a corruption (through *amingdala) of 
L. amygdala, < Gr. apiytiakri, a/iiydatov, an al- 
mond: see amygdala.'] 1 . The stone or kernel 
of the fruit of Prunus (Amygdalus) communis, 
the almond-tree (which see). There are two kinds, 
the sweet and the bitter. Sweet almonds are a favorite 
nut. They are the source of almond-oil, and an emulsion 
made from them is used in medicine. The best, from 
Malaga, are known as Jordan almonds. Bitter almonds 
are smaller, and yield, besides almond-oil and an azotized 
substance called emulsin (found also in sweet almonds), a 
bitter crystalline principle called amygdalin, which when 
mixed with emulsin is decomposed, producing hydrocyanic 
acid and bitter-almond oil. 
2. Anything shaped like an almond ; an orna- 
ment in the shape of an almond ; specifically, a 
piece of rock-crystal used in adorning branched 
candlesticks African almonds, the seeds of the pro- 
teaceous shrub Jirabeium stellatifolium, of southern Africa. 
Almond Of the throat, a tonsil or amygdala. Coun- 
try almonds, a name sometimes given to the fruit of the 
East Indian tree Termina.Ua Catappa.-Ja.va, almonds, 
the fruit of Catuirium commune. 
almond-cake (a'mond-kak), n. The cake left 
after expressing the oil from almonds. Its 
powder is used as soap in washing the hands. 
almond-eyed (a'mond-Id), a. Having almond- 
shaped eyes, as the Chinese and others of the 
Mongolian race. 
almond-furnace (al'mond-fer"nas), n. [Prob. 
for Almain or Alman furnace; ^ Almain, Ger- 
man (see Almain), + furnace.'] A furnace in 
which the slags of litharge left in refining sil- 
ver are reduced to lead by being heated with 
charcoal. 
almond-oil (ii'mond-oil), . A bland, fixed oil 
obtained from almonds by pressure, and used 
in medicine as a demulcent Bitter-almond oil, 
a volatile oil distilled from the residual cake of bitter al- 
monds after the almond-oil has been expressed, and due 
to decomposition of the amygdalin and emulsin of the 
seeds. 
almond-paste (a'mond-past), n. A cosmetic 
composed of bitter almonds, white of egg, rose- 
water, and rectified spirit, used to soften the 
skin and prevent chapping. 
almond-tree (a'mond-tre), n. A species of 
Prunus, P. communis, producing the almond. 
The leaves and flowers 
resemble those of the 
peach, but the fruit is 
more compressed, with 
a thin, tough, and fi- 
brous deciduous husk 
when ripe, and the shell 
thinner and more fra- 
gile. The tree is culti- 
vated for its nuts in the 
region bordering the 
Mediterranean, in Cali- 
fornia, and to a limited 
extent in the southern 
United States ; else- 
where it is grown for 
ornament, on account 
of its large early flow- 
ers. Thecommon^ower- 
Almond (Primus communis). ing almond is a dwarf 
double-flowered species 
from Russia, P. nana. The tropical Terminalia Catappa, 
of the East Indies, is also called almond-tree. 
almoner 1 , almner (al'mqn-er, am'ner), n. 
[Early mod. E. almoner, almener, almner, ame- 
ncr, amner, < ME. amoner, amener, earlier an- 
moner, aumener, awmener, etc., < OF. aumoner, 
aumonier, almosnier, mod. F. aumonier = Pr. 
almosnier, almonier (ML. reflex almonariiis, 
*almosinarius) = Sp. limosnero, almoner, = Pg. 
esmoler, almoner, esmoleiro, a begging friar, 
= It. limosiniero, -iere, -ario, < ML. eleemo- 
synarius, a giver or distributer, sometimes also 
a receiver, of alms (cf. OF. almosnere, al- 
mosneor = It. limosinatore, < ML. eleemosyna- 
tor, a giver of alms), < LL. eleemosyna, alms: 
see eleemosynary (of which almoner* is a dou- 
blet), almoner 2 , and alms.~\ A dispenser of 
alms or charity; especially, a person charged 
with the distribution of alms as an official duty. 
The office of almoner was first instituted in monasteries 
and other religious houses, which were required to dis- 
pense part of their revenues in charity. Almoners, usually 
priests, and often acting also as chaplains, were afterward 
attached to the households of sovereigns, feudal lords, 
prelates, etc., and to public institutions of various kinds. 
In France the name early became synonymous with chap- 
lain. (See aumonwr.) The grand almoner of the realm was 
154 
almucantar 
In England there is a lunl iiliiinner, or lord hinh nl,, inner, 
an ecclesiastical officer, generally a bishop, who formerly 
had the forfeiture of all deodands and the goods of all 
suicides, which he had to distribute to the poor. He now 
distributes twice a year the sovereign's bounty, whieh con- 
sists in giving a silver penny each to as many poor persons 
as the sovereign is years of age. There is also ;i *ul>-ul- 
moner, and a hereditary grand almoner. The office of the 
latter is now almost a sinecure. 
almoner 2 *, . [< ME. alner (for * almner), - 
mer, aumener, awmener, < OF. aumoniere, almos- 
niere, F. aumdniere (sometimes used 
in this form in E.) = Pr. almosnera 
(ML. reflex almonaria, almoneria) 
= Pg. esmoleira, alms-box, < ML. 
eleemosynaria, an alms-purse, alms- 
box, prop. adj. (sc. bursa, purse, area, 
box), fern, of eleemosynarius : see a 
tiumerl, and cf. almonry, of which 
almoner 2 is a doublet.] 1. An alms- 
purse. 2. In general, a purse, es- 
pecially a large purse, or pouch, usually (from 
the twelfth century until the fifteenth) hung 
from the girdle. It was closed either by cords drawn 
through the hem, or in a casing, or by a clasp. It took to 
a great extent the place of a pocket. 
almonership (al'mon-er-ship), n. The office 
or position of almoner. 
almonry (al'mon-ri), .; pi. almonries (-riz). 
[< late ME. almosnerye, < OF. "almosnerie, au- 
mosnerie, F. aumonerie = Pr. almonaria (ML. re- 
flex almonaria, almonarium), < ML. eleemosyna- 
ria, an almshouse, the residence or office of 
an almoner, also an alms-purse or alms-box (in 
this sense the source of almoner 2 ), prop. adj. 
fern, of eleemosynarius: see almoner*, almoner 2 , 
and eleemosynary. A different word from ambry, 
with which, through the forms almery, ambery, 
it has been in part confused: see ambry. ~\ The 
place where an almoner resides or where alms 
are distributed. In monasteries it is situated near the 
church or at the gate-house ; sometimes it is a separate 
building, as the alinonry at Canterbury, and sometimes 
it contains lodgings for choristers attached to the church. 
almost (al'most), adv. [Colloq. or dial, amost, 
'most, dial, also ommost, omast, Sc. amaist, 
'maist, < ME. almost, almoost, almeste, almaste, 
< AS. almcest, ealmasst, mostly all, nearly all, < 
al, eal, E. all, + mosst, E. most, adv.'] If. Nearly 
all ; for the most part ; mostly. [In this sense 
almost all is now used.] 
These giuers were almost Northmen. 
Axcham, The Scholemaster, p. 133. 
2. Very nearly; well-nigh; all but. 
I almost wish 
He be not dead, although my wrongs are great. 
Shelley, The Cenci, iii. 2. 
"' , A1 ? sin 
alms-bags to be laid 
Alms-basin decorated with champleve enamel, I3th century. 
upon the altar. Sometimes the alms was received di- 
rectly in the basin, without use of the bag. See alms-bag. 
Also called alms-dish. 
alms-box (amz'boks), . Same as alms-cltest. 
alms-chest (amz'chest), n. A chest or box fast- 
ened to the wall, as of a church, to receive offer- 
ings for the poor or for any religious purpose. 
alms-deed (amz'ded), n. [< ME. almes-dede, 
almesse-dede, etc.] An act of charity; a char- 
itable deed. Acts ix. 36. 
alms-dish (amz'dish), n. [< ME. almes-disshe.] 
Same as alms-basin. 
alms-drink (amz'dringk), n. The leavings of 
drink, such as might be given away in alms. 
2d Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured. 
1st Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 
Shak., A. and C., ii. 7. 
alms-fee (amz'fe), n. [< AS. ailmes-feoh, < cel- 
messe, alms, + feoh, money: see fee.~\ An an- 
nual tax of onepenny on every hearth, collected 
in England and Ireland and sent to Rome, from 
the beginning of the tenth century until it was 
abolished by Henry VHI. Also called Rome- 
scot or Rome-fee, and Peter's pence. 
He [Edmund], toward the middle of the tenth century, 
strictly commands payment of tithe, . . . and alms-fee. 
Kemble, Saxons in Eng., ii. 10. 
alms-folk (amz'fok), n. pi. Persons supported 
by alms. 
alms-gate (amz'gat), n. That gate of religious 
or great houses at which alms were distributed 
to the poor. 
almsgiver (amz'giv // er), n. One who gives alms. 
almsgiving (amz'giv'ing), . The act of giving 
alms. 
almoust, n. [= Sc. awmous, < ME. almouse, al- 
mows, almus, < Icel. almusa, olmusa = Sw. almosa 
=Dan. almisse = AS. celmesse, E. alms : see alms, 
of which almous, Sc. awmous, represents the 
Scand. form.] An old form of alms. 
alms (amz), n. sing., sometimes used as pi. [< 
ME. almes, almis, almesse, almisse, times, elmesse, 
celmesse, celmisse, < AS. aslmesse, celmysse (in comp. 
S-, almes-) = OS. alamosna = OFries. iel- 
who are supported by the public or by a rev- 
enue derived from private endowment; a poor- 
house. In the United States almshouse and pom-house 
are synonymous, meaning only a house for the common 
residence of the publicly supported paupers of a town or 
county. In Great Britain alnishouxes are generally a 
number of small dwellings built together, supported by 
private endowment, for the use of respectable persons 
reduced to poverty, buildings for public paupers being 
MHG. almuosen, G. almoscn = \w\. almusa, ol- 
musa = Sw. almosa = Dan. almisse = OF. al- 
mosne, aumosne, F. aumone (see almoin, almoign) 
= Pr. almosna = Sp. limosna = Pg. esmola = It. 
limosina = OBulg. almuzhino = Bohem. almuzhna 
= Pol. jalmuzhna = Hung, alamizsna, < ML. *i- 
mosina, elimosina, LL. eleemosyna, alms, < Gr. 
efeijuoavvq, pity, compassion, alms, < i'teriuwv, 
pitiful, merciful, compassionate, < efeof, pity, 
mercy, compassion. See almoner 1 , almoner 2 , 
and eleemosynary.'] 1. The act of relieving 
the needy; charitable aid; ministration to the 
poor : as, to give money in alms. 
When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what 
thy right hand doeth. Mat. vi. 3. 
2. That which is given to the poor or needy; a 
charitable dole ; anything bestowed in charity. 
Enoch set himself, 
Scorning an alms, to work whereby to live. 
Tennyson, Enoch Arden. 
To scatter from our abundance occasional alms is not 
enough. Channing, Works, IV. 291. 
Reasonable alms, in Eng. law, a. part of the estate of 
an intestate person allotted to the poor. Tenure by 
free alms, in England, an ecclesiastical tenure of land 
by which the possessor was formerly bound to pray for 
the soul of the donor, whether dead or alive; fraukal- 
moin (which see). 
alms-bag (amz'bag), n. A bag of some fine 
material used for collecting ahns during divine 
service. 
n. ; pi. almsmen (-men). 
5. almesman, (elmesmon, etc.] 1. A person 
supported by charity or public provision. 
Even bees, the little almsmen of spring bowers. 
Keats, Isabella, st. 13. 
2. A charitable person; a dispenser of alms. 
Secon. [Rare.] 
The almsman of other men's sympathies. 
Longfellow, Hyperion, iv. 7. 
alms-pot (amz'pot), n. A sort of box carried 
by beggars, and perhaps succeeding the clack- 
dish (which see) in point of time. It was some- 
times a cylindrical wooden pot with a slit in the lid, some- 
times a more carefully made vessel of pewter. Until very 
recently beggars in London carried such pots fastened to 
almucantar, almucanter (al-mu-kan'tar, -ter), 
n. [Also written alma-, almicantar, -er, formerly 
also almicantarath, etc., ME. almykantera(Cha,u- 
cer), < F. almucantaratlts, almucantarat, almican- 
tarat = Sp. almicantarat, almicantaradasi=Pg. 
(as ML.), < ML. almicantarath, almucantarath, 
< Ar. al-muqantardt, < al, the, + muqantardt, pi. 
of muqantarah, a sun-dial, < qantarah, a bridge, 
an arch.] 1. In aslron., a small circle of the 
sphere parallel to the horizon ; a circle or paral- 
lel of altitude. Wlien two stars are on the same almu- 
cantar they have the same altitude. 
2. An astronomical instrument (invented by 
S. C. Chandler) consisting of a telescope pro- 
vided with horizontal wires and mounted upon 
a box floating upon mercury. The float is first 
turned round so as to point the telescope east of the me- 
