3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of divine service. See Advowson.
Note: All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics, which are called dignities. But, ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics, deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships; benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
BENEFICE
Ben"e*fice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beneficed.]
Defn: To endow with a benefice.
Note: [Commonly in the past participle.]
BENEFICED
Ben"e*ficed, a.
Defn: Possessed of a benefice o "Beneficed clergymen." Burke.
BENEFICELESS
Ben"e*fice*less, a.
Defn: Having no benefice. "Beneficeless precisians." Sheldon.
BENEFICENCE Be*nef"i*cence, n. Etym: [L. beneficentia, fr. beneficus: cf. F. bénéficence. See Benefice.]