From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbeneficeben‧e‧fice /ˈbenɪfɪs/ noun [countable] RRCthe pay and position of a Christian priest who is in charge of a parish
Examples from the Corpus
benefice• A benefice consisting of six parishes can commonly have five patrons who all have views on their incumbent.• Then dreams he of another benefice.• He also promised to promote her son, then studying at Cambridge, to appropriate benefices and to make other benefactions.• Lothar remained grateful to him, praising his knowledge and, as pope, conferring benefices on him.• In March 1403 his numerous benefices were reckoned to be worth over £800 a year.• Some were imposed by monasteries on benefices of which they were the patrons, sometimes as a half way stage to appropriation.• As they progressed in the king's confidence and service, their benefices became more numerous and more lucrative.Origin benefice (1300-1400) Old French Medieval Latin beneficium, from Latin, “favor”, from beneficus “beneficent”, from bene “well” + facere “to do” 