Commendam
the administration or provisional management of a benefice during a vacancy. The person intrusted with the management was called commendator. The grant of ecclesiastical livings in this way gave rise to great abuses. In England the term was applied to a living retained by a bishop after he had ceased to be an incumbent.
By 6 and 7 William IV. the holding of livings in commendam was, for the future, abolished.