ben|e|fice

ben|e|fice «BEHN uh fihs», noun, verb, -ficed, -fic|ing.

–n.

1. a) a permanent office or position in the church, consisting of a sacred duty and the income that goes with it; a living. b) the income or endowment.

2. land granted in feudal tenure; fief.

–v.t.

to invest with a benefice.

╂[< Old French benefice, learned borrowing from Latin beneficium kindness, promotion < beneficus obliging, kind < bene facere do good to]