Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and held on the mere good pleasure of the donor; but afterward, becoming hereditary, it received the appellation of fief, and the term benefice became appropriated to church livings.
3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of divine service. See Advowson.
All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics, which are called dignities. But, ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics, deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships; benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
Ben"e*fice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beneficed.] To endow with a benefice. [Commonly in the past participle.]
Ben"e*ficed (&?;), a. Possessed of a benefice or church preferment. "Beneficed clergymen." Burke.
Ben"e*fice*less (&?;), a. Having no benefice. "Beneficeless precisians." Sheldon.
Be*nef"i*cence (&?;), n. [L. beneficentia, fr. beneficus: cf. F. bénéficence. See Benefice.] The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity; bounty springing from purity and goodness.
And whose beneficence no charge exhausts.
Cowper.
Syn. -- See Benevolence.
Be*nef`i*cent (&?;), a. Doing or producing good; performing acts of kindness and charity; characterized by beneficence.
The beneficent fruits of Christianity.
Prescott.
Syn. -- See Benevolent.
Be*nef`i*cen"tial (&?;), a. Relating to beneficence.
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Be*nef"i*cent*ly (b*nf"*sent*l), adv. In a beneficent manner; with beneficence.
Ben`e*fi"cial (&?;), a. [Cf. F. bénéficial, LL. beneficialis.] 1. Conferring benefits; useful; profitable; helpful; advantageous; serviceable; contributing to a valuable end; -- followed by to.
The war which would have been most beneficial to us.
Swift.
2. (Law) Receiving, or entitled to have or receive, advantage, use, or benefit; as, the beneficial owner of an estate. Kent.