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benefice

ben·e·fice [ bénnəfiss ]


noun  (plural ben·e·fic·es)
Definition:
 
1. christianity endowed church living: a church office that provides a living for its holder through an endowment attached to it

2. christianity revenue for church living: the revenue or property that provides the living of the holder of a church benefice

3. history form of feudal tenure: a form of feudal tenure in which a vassal held land from a superior, especially in return for military service



transitive verb  (past and past participle ben·e·ficed, present participle ben·e·fic·ing, 3rd person present singular ben·e·fic·es)
Definition:
 
christianity provide somebody with benefice: to provide a member of the clergy with a church office that will yield a living

[14th century. Via French< Latin beneficium "doing well" < bene "well" + fic-, variant of stem of facere "do"]
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