Ad-vow'son, n.

(-vow'zun), n. [Norm. Fr. avoeson. See supra.] (Eng. Law.) Properly, the relation in which a patron (advocatus) stands toward the living which he presents, i. e., the patronage of a church; the right of presenting or nominating to a vacant benefice or living in the church. The presentation is by letter to the bishop. Brande. Wharton.

The name is derived from advocatio (a calling to), because the right was first obtained by such as were founders, benefactors, or strenuous defenders, advocates, of the church. Those who have this right are styled patrons. In legal phraseology, advowsons are either appendant, where immemorially annexed to a manor, or in gross, where they form separate subjects of property.