in the common law, the act of bereaving, divesting, or taking away a spiritual promotion or dignity: as when a bishop, vicar, prebend, or the like, is deposed or deprived of his preferment, for some matter or fault, in fact or in law. See DEPOSITION.

Deprivation is of two kinds; à beneficio, et ab officio

DEPRIVATION à beneficio is, when for some great crime a minister is wholly and for ever deprived of his living or preferment; which differs from suspension, in that the latter is only temporary.

DEPRIVATION ab officio is, when a minister is for ever deprived of his order; which is the same, in reality, with what we otherwise call deposition and degradation; and is usually for some heinous crime deserving death, and is performed by the bishop in a solemn manner. See DEGRADATION.