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

A trial was held before Coke in which one of the counsel denied the validity of a grant made by the king to the bishop of Lichfield of a benefice to be held in commendam.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

An act of 1836 prohibited the holding of benefices in commendam in England.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various

He held offices both in the Aberdeen University and in the State, and in 1566 Queen Mary bestowed on him the Abbey of Lindores in commendam, and subsequently appointed him Bishop of Ross.

From Scottish Cathedrals and Abbeys by Butler, Dugald

Bonivard never took monastic vows or holy orders, but held his living in commendam, as a lay-man.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 22. July, 1878. by Various

All these were held in commendam with the Archbishopric of York, but they did not satisfy Wolsey; and, in 1521, he obtained the grant of St. Albans, the greatest abbey in England.

From Henry VIII. by Pollard, A. F. (Albert Frederick)