commendatory
- adjective
- /kəˈmɛndəˌtɔri/
- Archaic
:
encomendado
- He was appointed as a commendatory abbot, receiving the income but not living in the monastery.
Examples
-
The bishop held several commendatory benefices during his career in the church.
-
In medieval times, a commendatory title often meant authority without responsibility for daily duties.
-
The bishop held a commendatory position in the diocese.
-
The commendatory title was granted without any responsibilities.
-
The bishop was a commendatory appointee, entitled to the revenues of several churches without fulfilling the usual obligations.
-
During the 14th century, many commendatory abbots profited from their titles while neglecting their responsibilities.
-
A commendatory benefice allowed priests to receive financial benefits without the need for regular duties in their parishes.
Synonyms
A church office given temporarily to someone who receives its income
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Commendatory in its older church sense also comes from Latin commendare, meaning 'to entrust'. It was used for a church post or its money that was 'entrusted' to someone who kept the title and income but did not do the daily work, so a commendatory holder had the position without the usual duties.
