noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈwɪdəʊz ˈmaɪt/
General-American:/ˈwɪdoʊz ˈmaɪt/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪt
1
noun
Meaning 1
A very small gift or donation which, however, represents a great sacrifice on the part of the giver.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The lepton coin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, numismatics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From the Bible account of the poor widow’s donation of two mites (or leptons, small coins of low value) to the temple contribution box, which Jesus Christ praised as more than the gifts presented by wealthy people, for “[a]ll these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on”: Luke 21:1–4 (New International Version); see also Mark 12:38–44.
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
lesken ropo
— very small gift or donation
French:
denier de la veuve
— very small gift or donation
German:
Scherflein
— very small gift or donation
Hungarian:
szegény özvegy(asszony) két fillérje
— very small gift or donation
Irish:
cianóg na baintrí
— very small gift or donation
Polish:
wdowi grosz
— very small gift or donation
Russian:
ле́пта
(lépta)
— very small gift or donation
Serbo-Croatian:
цр̏кавица
— very small gift or donation
Serbo-Croatian:
cȑkavica
— very small gift or donation