From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Benefice \Ben"e*fice\, n. [F. b['e]n['e]fice, L. beneficium, a
kindness, in LL. a grant of an estate, fr. L. beneficus
beneficent; bene well + facere to do. See {Benefit}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A favor or benefit. [Obs.] --Baxter.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Feudal Law) An estate in lands; a fief.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and
held on the mere good pleasure of the donor; but
afterward, becoming hereditary, it received the
appellation of fief, and the term benefice became
appropriated to church livings.
[1913 Webster]
3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the
Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the
maintenance of divine service. See {Advowson}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: All church preferments are called benefices, except
bishoprics, which are called dignities. But,
ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics,
deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships;
benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Benefice \Ben"e*fice\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beneficed}.]
To endow with a benefice.
Note: [Commonly in the past participle.]
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
benefice
n 1: an endowed church office giving income to its holder [syn:
{benefice}, {ecclesiastical benefice}]
v 1: endow with a benefice
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