Late writers seem to consider _riches_ as plural; but erroneously. It is merely a contraction of _richesse_, the French singular, which was probably introduced into England under the Norman kings. Chaucer uses _richesse_ as the singular: "But for ye speken of swiche gentillesse, As is descended out of old _richesse_." Cant. Tales, 6691. --"And he that ones to love doeth his homage Full oftentymes dere bought _is the richesse_." La Belle Dame sans mercy, 323. The word _richesse_ here is no more plural than _gentilnesse_, _distresse_, _doublenesse_, which the author uses in the same poem; and _riches_ now, in strictness of speech, is no more plural than _gentleness_, _distress_, or any other word of similar ending. When Chaucer had occasion for a plural, he wrote the word _richesses_; as in the Tale of Melibeus: "Thou hast dronke so muche hony of swete temporal _richesses_ and delices and honors of this world," &c.---- Works, vol. 4. p. 170. Bell's edit. The word _riches_ therefore is in the singular number and merely an abbreviation of _richesse_; as _distress_ is of _distresse_; _weakness_, of _weaknesse_, &c. and the reason why the plural _richesses_ has been neglected, may be, that the idea it conveys does not admit of number any more than that of _wealth_, which is also destitute of a plural form. "Was ever _riches_ gotten by your golden mediocrities?"----Cowley on Cromwell's Gov. "When love has taken all thou hast away, His strength by too much riches will decay." Cowley. "The envy and jealousy which great _riches_ is always attended with."----Moyle's Essay on Lacedem. Gov. 48. "In one hour _is_ so great _riches_ come to nought."----Bible. Here _riches_ is considered in its true light. Notwithstanding this, the termination of the word has led late writers into the opinion, that it is plural; so that we generally see it followed by a plural verb: Should this become the unanimous opinion and a general correspondent practice ensue, _riches_ will be established as a plural, contrary to etymology and ancient usage. _Alms_ is also in the singular number; being a contraction of the old Norman French, _almesse_, the plural of which was _almesses_. So in Chaucer: "Ye knowen wel that I am poure and olde, Kithe (show) your _almesse_ upon me poure wretche." Freres Tale, 7190. "_This almesse_ shouldest thou do of thy propre thinges," &c.---- Vol. 5. p. 217. Bell. "These ben generally the _almesses_ and werkes of charitie of hem that have temporel richesses."----The same. _Alms_ is used as a noun singular in the Bible; "To ask _an alms_." "He gave _much alms_;" that is, _almesse_, or charity. The plural of this word is not used. _Largess_ is a word of this class. It is from the old French _largesse_; but the idea admits of number, and accordingly we find the plural, _largesses_, still in use.