The Collaborative International Dictionary
Commendam \Com*men"dam\, n. [LL. dare in commendam to give into trust.] (Eng. Eccl. Law) A vacant living or benefice commended to a cleric (usually a bishop) who enjoyed the revenue until a pastor was provided. A living so held was said to be held in commendam. The practice was abolished by law in 1836.
There was [formerly] some sense for commendams.
--Selden.
Partnership in commendam. See under Partnership.
Wiktionary
n. (context obsolete English) A vacant benefice commended to a cleric until an incumbent was provided
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "commendam".
The man who received an office in in commendam was not required to fulfill the duties attached to the position and when a living or an abbacy was granted in this way during the incumbency of another, the recipient received its entire income during a subsequent vacancy.
Their great charter, the right of election, was annihilated by appeals, evaded by trusts or commendams, disappointed by reversionary grants, and superseded by previous and arbitrary reservations.
Their great charter, the right of election, was annihilated by appeals, evaded by trusts or commendams, disappointed by reversionary grants, and superseded by previous and arbitrary reservations.