Meanings
plural advowsons
- UKecclesiasticalThe right to present a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church office.
Advowson is the right to appoint the incumbent clergy of a parish, so three advowsons meant three incumbents.
2017, Ben Aaronovitch, The Furthest Station, Gollancz, page 881 more example
The advowson of the parsonages of Sempringham and Tirington, being the right of his father, he [St. Gilbert] was presented by him [his father] to those united livings, in 1123.
1866, Rev. Alban Butler, chapter IV, in The Lives of the Saints, volume II (February)
Origin
- Latinadvocātiō
- Anglo-Normanavouson
- Middle Englishavowson
- Englishadvowson
From Middle English avowson, from Anglo-Norman avouson, from Latin advocātiō. Doublet of advocation.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
advowson. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advowson
“advowson.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advowson. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “advowson,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/advowson.
Source: advowson on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.