Benefice

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Benefice \Ben"e*fice\, n. [F. b['e]n['e]fice, L. beneficium, a
     kindness, in LL. a grant of an estate, fr. L. beneficus
     beneficent; bene well + facere to do. See {Benefit}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A favor or benefit. [Obs.] --Baxter.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Feudal Law) An estate in lands; a fief.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and
           held on the mere good pleasure of the donor; but
           afterward, becoming hereditary, it received the
           appellation of fief, and the term benefice became
           appropriated to church livings.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the
        Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the
        maintenance of divine service. See {Advowson}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: All church preferments are called benefices, except
           bishoprics, which are called dignities. But,
           ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics,
           deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships;
           benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Benefice \Ben"e*fice\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beneficed}.]
     To endow with a benefice.
  
     Note: [Commonly in the past participle.]
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  benefice
       n : an endowed church office giving income to its holder [syn: {ecclesiastical
           benefice}]
       v : endow with a benefice

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  BENEFICE, eccles. law. In its most extended sense, any ecclesiastical 
  preferment or dignity; but in its more limited sense, it is applied only to 
  rectories and vicarages.