benefice
[ ben-uh-fis ]
/ ˈbɛn ə fɪs /
noun
a position or post granted to an ecclesiastic that guarantees a fixed amount of property or income.
the revenue itself.
the equivalent of a fief in the early Middle Ages.
verb (used with object), ben·e·ficed, ben·e·fic·ing.
to invest with a benefice or ecclesiastical living.
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Origin of benefice
OTHER WORDS FROM benefice
non·ben·e·ficed, adjectiveun·ben·e·ficed, adjectiveWords nearby benefice
benefactive, benefactor, benefactress, benefactrix, benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent, beneficial, beneficiary, beneficiate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for benefice
British Dictionary definitions for benefice
benefice
/ (ˈbɛnɪfɪs) /
noun
Christianity an endowed Church office yielding an income to its holder; a Church living
the property or revenue attached to such an office
(in feudal society) a tenement (piece of land) held by a vassal from a landowner on easy terms or free, esp in return for military supportSee also vassalage
verb
(tr) to provide with a benefice
Word Origin for benefice
C14: from Old French, from Latin beneficium benefit, from beneficus, from bene well + facere to do
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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