commendam

American  

[kuh-men-dam] / kəˈmɛn dæm /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

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

2. a benefice so held.

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commendam British  

/ kəˈmɛndæm /

noun

1. the temporary holding of an ecclesiastical benefice

2. a benefice so held

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commendam

Robert Blyth, a Benedictine and abbot of the monastery of Thorney, in Cambridgeshire, received this diocese in commendam by royal privilege in 1526.

From The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, March 1865 by Various

Even the abbey of St Denis was held in commendam by Hugh Capet.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

This great cardinal was invested with the temporalities on December 7th, 1521, and held the Abbey "in commendam."

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Saint Albans With an Account of the Fabric & a Short History of the Abbey by Perkins, Thomas, Rev.

To supplement this paltry revenue the bishops often held other appointments in commendam.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Rochester A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Palmer, G. H. (George Henry)

John Dolben, made bishop in 1666; had served at Marston Moor and been wounded at York; retained his deanery of Westminster in commendam; translated to York in 1683; died in 1686.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Rochester A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Palmer, G. H. (George Henry)