BENEFICE

benefice (ben-<<schwa>>-fis).1.Hist. A feudal estate in land, held during the life of the

tenant. See BENEFICIUM(3).

“[T]he vassal no longer owns the land, but ‘holds’ it ‘of’ the lord — the vassal has become a ‘tenant’ (from the Latin, ‘tenere’, to hold). The vassal’s interest in the land so held, first called a ‘benefice’, is now a ‘feudum’, anglicised in modern law as ‘fee.’ ” Peter Butt, Land Law 52 (3d ed.

1996).

2.Hist. Eccles. law. An estate held by the Catholic Church in feudal tenure. See

BENEFICIUM(1), (2).3. An ecclesiastical office such as a bishopric or parish; a preferment.

4.BENEFICIUM(3). BÉNÉFICE

bénéfice (bay-nay-fees). [French “benefit”] French law. A benefit or advantage; esp., a

privilege given by law rather than by agreement of the parties.[Blacks Law 8th]