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Liberal in charity; disposed to give freely; generously liberal; munificent; beneficent; free in bestowing gifts; as, bounteous production. But O, thou bounteous Giver of all good. Cowper. -- Boun"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Boun"te*ous*ness, n.

A benefice or prebend in a cathedral or collegiate church; a right to a place in chapter and to a portion of its revenues; the dignity or emoluments of a canon.

To quality. [R.] The benefice he is capacified and designed for. Barrow.

The giving up or vacating a benefice by accepting another without a proper dispensation.

Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous; beneficent. What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.

An exchanger or an exchange of benefices. [Cant]

Characteristic of Christian people; civilized; kind; kindly; gentle; beneficent. The graceful tact; the Christian art. Tennyson. Christian Commission. See under Commission. -- Christian court. Same as Ecclesiastical court. -- Christian era, the present era, commencing with the birth of Christ. It is supposed that owi…

The assistant of a bishop or of a priest holding a benefice.

To present and institute in a benefice, when the person presenting is both the patron and the ordinary; -- followed by to.

The presentation of a clergyman to a benefice by a bishop, who has it in his own gift.

One who collates to a benefice.

A vacant living or benefice commended to a cleric (usually a bishop) who enjoyed the revenue until a pastor was provided. A living so held was said to be held in commendam. The practice was abolished by law in 1836. There was [formerly] some sense for commendams. Selden. Partnership in commendam. See under Partnership.…

One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary. Chalmers.

Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke. Commendatory prayer (Book of Common Prayer), a prayer read over the dying. "The commendatory prayer was said for him, and, as it ended, he [William III.] died." Bp. Burnet.

from which are sent graces or favors, cognizable in foro externo, such as appointments to benefices. The name is derived from the word datum, given or dated (with the indications of the time and place of granting the gift or favor).

The office or the revenue of a dean. See the Note under Benefice, n., 3.

the taking away from a clergyman his benefice, or other spiritual promotion or dignity.

Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew. Dewy sleep ambrosial. Cowper.

A benefice conferred on a person by the founder or patron, without either presentation or institution by the ordinary, or induction by his orders. See the Note under Benefice, n.,

Expectative grace, a mandate given by the pope or a prince appointing a successor to any benefice before it becomes vacant. Foxe.