Forms: 3–4 avoweisoun, avoweson, voweson; 6 avoson; 7 aduouson, advouson, aduowsion, advousen, advowzen; 6– advowson. [a. OFr. avoëson (in Anglo-Fr. advoeson, advoweson, advowson):—L. advocātiōn-em: see ADVOCATION (a doublet of advowson). Avoweson, beside being refashioned as advowson after L., was aphetized in 4 to voweson.] The ‘patronage’ of an ecclesiastical office or religious house; the right of presentation to a benefice or living. (orig. The obligation to defend its rights or be its ‘advocate’; see ADVOWEE.)
1297. R. Glouc., 471. Eni striuing … betuene a lewede & a clerc, vor holi churche thing, As vor voweson of churche.
c. 1300. Life of Beket, 575. As for an Avoweisoun of churche.
1502. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 183. All such landis, tenementis, rentys, aduousons or other poscessions.
a. 1556. Cranmer, Wks., II. 239. Mine old suit for the receipt of Mr. Benet’s advowson of the Benefice of Barnabe.
1571. Act 13 Eliz., xxix. § 3, in Oxf. & Camb. Enactmts., 30. Services, annuyties, advousons of Churches.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 4/1. Such thinges that lye not in manuell occupacion as … avowson of a churche.
1595. Errington, in Wills & Invent. N. Counties (1860), 253. The avoson of the rectorie of Elton.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. of Parallele, 10. It is fructus aduocationis, and not the aduouson it selfe.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gent., iv. 31. To be set off in hope of the next advouson (which perhaps was sold before the young man was borne).
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 342. Our Lord the King was seised of the aforesaid Advousen in time of Peace.
1663. Butler, Hudibras, I. i. 236. As if Hypocrisie and Non-sence Had got th’Advowson of his Conscience.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., s.v., Advowzen (advocatio), a right to present to a Benefice; as much as Jus Patronatus in the Canon Law.
1713. Steele, Englishm., No. 6. 37. He has lately named me for a Living, of which he had the Advowson.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trum., I. 18. Advowson, the purchaseable right (purchaseable even by a Jew, Pagan or Mahometan) of controlling the souls of a whole parish.
1865. Reader, 9 Sept., 279/2. The traffic in advowsons has never been actually prevented in any country.
Comb. advowson-monger.
1660. Quarles, Div. Fanc., III. lxxxii. 134. [The church] sustains th’ extremes of cold and hunger, To pamper up the fat Advouson-monger.
