BENEFICE

(Lat. benefic tum, benefit) —(1) estate granted for life under Roman Empire and in early Middle Ages. (2) estate granted to clergy, settle on themselves and succe ors. The patron of the b., (z7.e.) the donor of the estate or purchaser of the adyowson, presents a clerk to the bp., who institutes him to his office; or if the bp. is patron he collates a clerk of his own choice to the b.