[acc. sing. of med.L. commenda ‘depositum’ (Du Cange), as used in phr. dare in commendam, to give (sc. a benefice) in charge or trust, or as a deposit, whence also applied to the benefice so entrusted, f. L. commendāre to give into one’s charge, deposit, entrust; cf. OF. commande, mod. commende, and see COMMEND sb. 1, COMMENDA, -UM.]
1. In the phrase in commendam: used of the tenure of a benefice ‘commended’ or given in charge to a qualified clerk or layman, to hold until a proper incumbent was provided for it, or according to a practice of later development, bestowed upon a layman or secular ecclesiastic, with enjoyment of the revenues for life; esp. used of a benefice, which a bishop or other dignitary was permitted to hold along with his own preferment. (Abolished in England by statute in 1836.)
1658. Bramhall, Consecr. Bps., viii. 190. A grant to the … Bishop of St. Davids, to hold in Commendam with the said Bishoprick the Rectory of Carewe.
1756. Gentl. Mag., XXVI. 120. He held this living in commendam with his bishoprick till his death in 1746.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 456. A beneficed clergyman when promoted to a bishopric vacates his benefice by the promotion, unless the King, by special dispensation, gives him power to retain his benefice, and when this is done, he is said to hold it ‘in commendam.’
1885. T. Arnold, Cath. Dict., 198. In process of time the Roman See claimed the right of allowing a bishop, or other dignitary, to hold other benefices in commendam with his own preferment.
b. transf.
1680. Sir C. Lyttelton, in Hatton Corr. (1878), 236. My Ld Carlisle does pretend to goe back to Jamaica … may be he has to keepe it in commendam and to goe by his deputy.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., vi. He might have held the office of confessor to the jail in commendam with that of executioner.
2. As Eng. sb. (with pl.) The custody of an ecclesiastical benefice in the absence of a regular incumbent; the tenure or enjoyment of the revenues of a benefice held as above. (Latin commenda.)
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 3/2. Their sleights to get monie … Sixtlie, for commendams.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 242. The commendams [ed. 1630 -ums] of vacant revenues … and the denomination of benefices doth yeild yearly to his majesty a great quantitie of money.
1625. Petit. Relig., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 183. That Nonresidencie, Pluralities, and Commendams may be moderated.
1750. Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 120. Dispensations called in England Commendams.
1836–7. Act 6–7 Will. IV,. c. 77. § 18. Every commendam in future granted … whether temporary or perpetual, shall be absolutely void to all intents and purposes.
b. The benefice or office so held.
1607. Cowel, Interpr., Commendam is a benefice, which, being void, is commended to the charge and care of some sufficient clerk to be supplied, until it be conveniently provided of a pastor. [So 1641. Termes de la Ley, 66.]
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 236. Bishop Green (having no commendam) had a very inadequate income.
1882–3. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., I. 502. The office [abbot] became a commendam in the House of Guise.
3. = COMMANDERY 2 (med. L. commenda).
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 60. His Commendams of the orders of Montegia, Calatravia, Alcantara, and S. James.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xxvi. 158. The place belonged to a Commendam of S. James.
