Com-mēn'dam, n.
n. [Lat., abbreviated from in commendam; from L. Lat. commenda, from commendare. See supra.]
(Eccl. Law.) 1. A vacant living or benefice committed to the care of the holder until a proper pastor is supplied.
There was some sense for commendams; at first, when there was a living void, and never a clerk to serve it, the bishops were to keep it till they found a fit man; but now it is a trick for the bishop to keep it for himself. Selden.
Sense 2. The holding of a vacant benefice until a pastor is supplied.
Sense 3. The intrusting the revenues of a benefice to a layman for a certain time and purpose.