commendam

[ kuh-men-dam ]

/ kəˈmɛn dæm /

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.

Nearby words

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for commendam

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
Bonivard never took monastic vows or holy orders, but held his living in commendam, as a lay-man.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 22. July, 1878.|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
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

An act of 1836 prohibited the holding of benefices in commendam in England.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7|Various

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