PHILANTHROPY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Philanthropy

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/fɪlˈænθrəpi/ Listen

noun

Philanthropy n.

Love to mankind; benevolence toward the whole human family; universal good will; desire and readiness to do good to all men; opposed to misanthropy.

An active effort to promote human welfare; humanitarian activity. in this sense, it is an action, not merely a state of mind.

An organization whose purpose is to engage in philanthropy(2), and is supported by funds from one or a small number of wealthy individuals; a type of charity, the source of whose funds is typically from a wealthy individual or a corporation, or a trust fund established by a wealthy individual. It is distinguished from other charitable organizations in that the source of funds of other charities may come from a large number of sources, or from public solicitation.

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Etymology of 'Philanthropy'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Philanthropy" Quotes from Famous Books

... enraptured her imagination; she regarded herself as an agent of Charity, and already in idea anticipated the rewards of a good and faithful delegate; so animating are the designs of disinterested benevolence! so pure is the bliss of intellectual philanthropy! ...

— Cecilia Volume 1 • Frances Burney

... out of the room as well as my complaints would let me, and was sauntering a few steps from the door, when judge of my terror on turning round, to find him of the black coat at my elbow! "In pain, sir, I see." All my alarm ceased in a moment. It was pure philanthropy which had made me an object of so much interest. "Yes, sir, in great pain." "You should take care of yourself, sir. Rheumatic, are you not?" "Very rheumatic." "Well, sir, you have come to the best place in the world for rheumatism. The air, the water, and proper treatment, will soon set you up." ...

— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, Number 361, November, 1845. • Various

... of the hand, "that's all right. The publishing of books is a pure philanthropy. We are in business for ...

— Kent Knowles: Quahaug • Joseph C. Lincoln

... measure of negro emancipation was carried, not by the violent declamation and ignorant railings of men who sought popularity by exciting the passions of the multitude, but by the persevering exertions and practical Christian philanthropy of Mr. Wilberforce and his coadjutors. It is naturally to be expected that a person writing a book on America would offer some remarks upon this subject, and raise a voice, however feeble, against so gigantic an evil. The conclusions which I have ...

— The Englishwoman in America • Isabella Lucy Bird

... control. But in the earlier part of the eighteenth century, religion had ceased to govern, and had not yet attained that moral influence which, even in the absence of strong faith, establishes rectitude of conduct, philanthropy, and purity of thought in the minds of men. The ideals and aspirations of preceding centuries had no meaning for what Addison called an "understanding age," and the standard of order, refinement and taste of ...

— A History of English Prose Fiction • Bayard Tuckerman

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