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Webster 1913 Edition


Benefice

Ben′e-fice

,
Noun.
[F.
bénéfice
, L.
beneficium
, a kindness , in LL. a grant of an estate, fr. L.
beneficus
beneficent;
bene
well +
facere
to do. See
Benefit
.]
1.
A favor or benefit.
[Obs.]
Baxter.
2.
(Feudal Law)
An estate in lands; a fief.
☞ 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.
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
.
☞ 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.

Ben′e-fice

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Beneficed
.]
To endow with a benefice.
[Commonly in the past participle.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Benefice

BEN'EFICE

,
Noun.
[L. beneficium.]
1.
Literally, a benefit, advantage or kindness. But in present usage, en ecclesiastical living; a church endowed with a revenue, for the maintenance of divine service,or the revenue itself. All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics, which are called dignities. But ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics, deaneries, arch-deaconries, and prebendaries; and benefice, to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
2.
In the middle ages, benefice was used for a fee, or an estate in lands, granted at first for like only, and held ex mero beneficio of the donor. The estate afterwards becoming hereditary, took the appellation of feud, and benefice became appropriated to church livings.

Definition 2024


Benefice

Benefice

See also: benefice and bénéfice

Luxembourgish

Noun

Benefice m (plural Beneficer)

  1. profit
  2. benefit

benefice

benefice

See also: Benefice and bénéfice

English

Noun

benefice (plural benefices)

  1. Land granted to a priest in a church that has a source of income attached to it.
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, NYRB, 2001, vol.1, p.323:
      If after long expectation, much expense, travel, earnest suit of ourselves and friends, we obtain a small benefice at last, our misery begins afresh […].
    • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p.94:
      There were as many as one hundred thousand benefices offered during the period of his papacy, according to one chronicler and eyewitness.
  2. (obsolete) A favour or benefit.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Baxter to this entry?)
  3. (feudal law) An estate in lands; a fief.

Verb

benefice (third-person singular simple present benefices, present participle beneficing, simple past and past participle beneficed)

  1. To bestow a benefice upon
    • 1917, George A. Stephen, Three Centuries of a City Library:
      There are two volumes, "The Open Door for Man's approach to God" (London, 1650) and "A Consideration of Infant Baptism" (London, 1653), by John Horne, who was beneficed at All Hallows, King's Lynn.
    • 1851, Horace Greeley, Glances at Europe:
      You clergymen of the Established Church have been richly endowed and beneficed expressly for this work--why don't you DO it?

Latin

Adjective

benefice

  1. vocative masculine singular of beneficus

References


Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin beneficium.

Noun

benefice m (oblique plural benefices, nominative singular benefices, nominative plural benefice)

  1. (ecclesiastical) benefice
  2. favour, advantage
  3. benefit