prebend

[preb-uhnd]

noun

1. a stipend allotted from the revenues of a cathedral or a collegiate church to a canon or member of the chapter.

2. the land yielding such a stipend.

3. a prebendary.

prebend

/ ˈprɛbənd, prɪˈbɛndəl /

noun

1. the stipend assigned by a cathedral or collegiate church to a canon or member of the chapter

2. the land, tithe, or other source of such a stipend

3. a less common word for prebendary

4. Church of England the office, formerly with an endowment, of a prebendary

Other Word Forms

• prebendal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prebend¹

1375–1425; late Middle English prebende < Medieval Latin prēbenda, variant of praebenda prebend, Late Latin: allowance, neuter plural gerundive of Latin prae ( hi ) bēre to offer, furnish, equivalent to prae- pre- + -hibēre, combining form of habēre to have, hold

Word History and Origins

Origin of prebend¹

C15: from Old French prébende, from Medieval Latin praebenda pension, stipend, from Latin praebēre to offer, supply, from prae forth + habēre to have, offer

Example Sentences

It is worthy of note that certain important and old established abbeys in Wessex had canons’ prebends attached to their churches.

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The vilest traffickers in souls are all His chapmen, and for gold a prebend’s stall He’ll sell them, or an abbacy or mitre.

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She knew not what might be required of her, for Scarron's fortune was dwindling away, and he had been compelled to resign the prebend of Mans.

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He was appointed also the Lady Margaret’s professor of divinity, and by virtue of that, he had a prebend in Worcester Cathedral in 1705. 

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Nay, in times past, the sea had gone very near to sacrilege, for it has devoured the lands with which a prebend of St. Paul's was endowed.

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