commendam

[ kuh-men-dam ]

/ kəˈmɛn dæm /

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noun Ecclesiastical.

the tenure of a benefice to be held until the appointment of a regular incumbent, the benefice being said to be held in commendam.

a benefice so held.

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Origin of commendam

1555–65; <Medieval Latin, short for (dare) in commendam (to give) in trust; commendam, accusative singular of commenda, noun derivative of Latin commendāre to commend

Words nearby commendam

commenced, commencement, commencing, commend, commendable, commendam, commendation, commendatory, commended, commensal, commensalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use commendam in a sentence

He was consecrated bishop of Norwich in 1792, and two years later received the appointment of dean of Windsor in commendam.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 5|Various
To supplement this paltry revenue the bishops often held other appointments in commendam.
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Rochester|G. H. Palmer
In 1566 he was raised to the bishopric of Bangor; and he held the living of Whitney, in Oxfordshire, in commendam.
A Biographical Sketch of some of the Most Eminent Individuals which the Principality of Wales has produced since the Reformation|Robert Williams
This great cardinal was invested with the temporalities on December 7th, 1521, and held the Abbey "in commendam."
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Saint Albans|Thomas Perkins

He held "in commendam" the abbey of St. Albans, and many other church preferments.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part C.|David Hume

British Dictionary definitions for commendam

commendam

/ (kəˈmɛndæm) /

noun

the temporary holding of an ecclesiastical benefice

a benefice so held

Word Origin for commendam

C16: from Medieval Latin phrase dare in commendam to give in trust, from commenda trust, back formation from Latin commendāre to entrust, commend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012