\Char"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Charities}. [F. charit['e] fr. L.
caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly,
loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend,
W. caru to love. Cf. {Caress}.]
1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.
         Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the
         greatest of these is charity.         --1. Cor.
                                               xiii. 13.
         They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose
         hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. --Ruskin.
         With malice towards none, with charity for all.
                                               --Lincoln.
2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a
   disposition which inclines men to put the best
   construction on the words and actions of others.
         The highest exercise of charity is charity towards
         the uncharitable.                     --Buckminster.
3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent
   institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity.
         The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido
         to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. --Dryden.
4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or
   suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness.
         She did ill then to refuse her a charity.
                                               --L'Estrange.
5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support
   such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.
6. pl. (Law) Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises]
   including relief of the poor or friendless, education,
   religious culture, and public institutions.
         The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are
         scattered at the feet of man like flowers.
                                               --Wordsworth.
{Sisters of Charity} (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious
   women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick;
   -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the
   Sisters of Charity.
Syn: Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness;
     beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.