advowson donative
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In which a secular patron (usually the Crown) has the right of disposing of the benefice to any legally qualified person without institution or induction or examination by the bishop or ordinary.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “advowson donative” mean?
In which a secular patron (usually the Crown) has the right of disposing of the benefice to any legally qualified person without institution or induction or examination by the bishop or ordinary.
Is “advowson donative” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.