Commendam

/kəˈmɛndəm/ noun

Definition

A Latin legal term referring to a trust, commitment, or arrangement where something is entrusted to another's care or management, particularly in ecclesiastical property.

Etymology

Latin accusative form of 'commenda', used in formal legal and ecclesiastical documents throughout medieval and early modern Europe.

Kelly Says

In church law, commendam arrangements allowed high-ranking clergy to collect revenues from Church properties even without directly managing them—a system that later became controversial for corruption.

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