benefice

plural benefices

1. Land granted to a priest in a church that has a source of income attached to it.

   There were as many as one hundred thousand benefices offered during the period of his papacy, according to one chronicler and eyewitness.

   2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge, published 2008, page 94

   2 more examples

   If after long expectation, much expense, travel, earnest suit of ourselves and friends, we obtain a small benefice at last, our misery begins afresh […]

   1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC

   She saw how many, even of good men's children, profaned the ministry, […] that she was vehemently against addicting any to that office, that had not, besides good wits and parts, so great a love to God and souls, as to come to it with absolute self-denial, resolved to serve Christ at the dearest rates, and take his acceptance and the winning of souls for their benefice.

   1681, Richard Baxter, “Her Desires to Do Good”, in Life of Mrs. Margaret Baxter. […] (Christian Biography), abridged edition, London: Religious Tract Society, […], published [1832], →OCLC, page 46

2. obsoleteA favour or benefit.
3. feudal lawAn estate in lands; a fief.

present singular third person benefices · participle present beneficing · participle past beneficed · past beneficed

1. To bestow a benefice upon

   You clergymen of the Established Church have been richly endowed and beneficed expressly for this work--why don't you DO it?

   1851, Horace Greeley, Glances at Europe

   1 more example

   There are two volumes, "The Open Door for Man's approach to God" (London, 1650) and "A Consideration of Infant Baptism" (London, 1653), by John Horne, who was beneficed at All Hallows, King's Lynn.

   1917, George A. Stephen, Three Centuries of a City Library