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

Trading corporations for profit were practically unknown to the Romans, or even to Continental countries—scholastic precedents and the Venetian commendam to the contrary notwithstanding.

From Popular Law-making by Stimson, Frederic Jesup

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.

But there is a method, by the favour of the crown, of holding such livings in commendam.

From Commentaries on the Laws of England Book the First by Blackstone, William, Sir

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

If the revenues were made more equal, 'the poorer Bishops,' the Bishop writes, 'would be freed from the necessity of holding ecclesiastical preferments in commendam with their Bishopricks,' p.

From Life of Johnson, Volume 4 1780-1784 by Boswell, James