Forms: 3–7 avowe, 6–7 avowee, 7–9 advowee. [a. OFr. avoué, earlier avoé, avoet:—L. advocāt-us in sense of patron; see ADVOCATE. Avoet, avoué, was the living descendant of advocāt-us, of which avocat was a later learned adaptation, as a title. In 15th c. the scribes sometimes Latinized avoué to advoué, whence the current Eng. form: cf. ADVOWSON. Though avowè and advowee are thus the same word, the former is associated with a sense which became obs. before the form advowee was established; and they are here treated separately: see AVOWÈ.]
[1. An advocate, protector or patron: esp. a patron saint; see AVOWÈ, the older form used in this sense.]
2. The advocate, protector or patron of an ecclesiastical office or benefice. One who protected and defended its interests, and thus usually became privileged to nominate or present to it; the protection has long disappeared, but the right of presentation is retained as a marketable ‘property.’ One who holds the advowson.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., s.v., Advowee alias avowe (advocatus) is used for him that hath right to present to a Benefice.
1691. Case of Exeter-Coll., 44. The Custody of Voidances, Presentments, Collations, etc. as Lords and Advowees.
1744. J. Lewis, Life of Pecock, 252. He gave & granted them as if he were the patron or advowee of them.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Advowees were the guardians, protectors, and, as it were, administrators of the temporal concerns of the churches…. [They] are sometimes called by their primitive name Advowees, though more usually patrons.
