Preceptory

n. [L. Lat. præceptoria, an estate assigned to a preceptor, from Lat. præceptor, a commander, ruler, teacher; L. Lat. procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See PRECEPTOR.] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order at London, under the government of an eminent knight. It usually stood on a manor or estate belonging to the order, on which was also a church, and other necessary buildings; as, the Preceptory of Templestowe. Hook. W. Scott.