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A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. It seems to have been originally a voluntary bequest or donation, intended to make amends for any failure in the payment of tithes of which the deceased had been guilty.

Having the nature of a gift. [Obs.]

retty; weakly sentimental; finical; insipid. Thackeray. Namby-pamby madrigals of love. W. Gifford.

Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [Obs.] Fuller.

Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, the commencement of the year; as, New-year gifts or odes.

n. The book ... giveth liberty to object any crime against such as are to be ordered. Whitgift.

A gift or contribution made to a church, as for the expenses of the eucharist, or for the support of the clergy and the poor.

The obtaining gifts of escheat by fraud or surprise. Bell.

ivine service; that which is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering. They are polluted offerings more abhorred Than spotted livers in the sacrifice. Shak.

A right formerly belonging to an archbishop to select any one dignity or benefice in the gift of a suffragan bishop consecrated or confirmed by him, for bestowal by himself when next vacant; -- annulled by Parliament in 1845.

A beautiful woman (all-gifted), whom Jupiter caused Vulcan to make out of clay in order to punish the human race, because Prometheus had stolen the fire from heaven. Jupiter gave Pandora a box containing all human ills, which, when the box was opened, escaped and spread over the earth. Hope alone remained in the box. A…

The doctrine and ceremonies of the Church of Rome; popery. [R.] Whitgift.

One who has gift and disposition of a benefice. [Eng.]

ts of the harvest was made. By the Jews it was generally regarded as commemorative of the gift of the law on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt.

A present or gift which is made as a forfeit in a social game that is played in various ways; also, the game itself. [Written also fillipeen and phillippine.]

An allowance of food bestowed in charity; a mess of victuals; hence, a small charity gift; a dole. "A good pitaunce." Chaucer. One half only of this pittance was ever given him in money. Macaulay.

the god of wealth. He was represented as bearing a cornucopia, and as blind, because his gifts were bestowed without discrimination of merit.

The art of composing poems; poetical skill or faculty; as, the heavenly gift of poesy. Shak.

commonly used reflexively. I have possessed your grace of what I purpose. Shak. Record a gift . . . of all he dies possessed Unto his son. Shak. We possessed our selves of the kingdom of Naples. Addison. To possess our minds with an habitual good intention. Addison.

Subsequent. "The graces and gifts of the spirit are postnate." [Archaic] Jer. Taylor.