Commendatary

/kəˈmɛndətɛri/ noun

Definition

A person holding or entitled to the revenues of an ecclesiastical benefice or commenda; one who has been granted a trust or fiefdom.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin 'commendatarius' (one who holds a commenda), derived from 'commenda' and the Latin agent suffix '-arius'.

Kelly Says

A commendatary in the medieval Church could be someone who'd never set foot in their parish but collected its revenues—a system that helped spark the Reformation's criticism of Church corruption.

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