• (British) IPA: /ˈbɛnɪfɪs/

benefice (plural benefices)

1. Land granted to a priest in a church that has a source of income attached to it.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 54573970 ↗:

     , NYRB, 2001, vol.1, p.323:

     If after long expectation, much expense, travel, earnest suit of ourselves and friends, we obtain a small benefice at last, our misery begins afresh […].

   • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p.94:

     There were as many as one hundred thousand benefices offered during the period of his papacy, according to one chronicler and eyewitness.

2. (obsolete) A favour or benefit.
3. (feudal law) An estate in lands; a fief.

benefice (benefices, present participle beneficing; past and past participle beneficed)

1. To bestow a benefice upon