PRETIMONY, in Canon Law, is derived à prestatione quotidiana; and is, by some, defined to be a kind of benefice, served by a single priest. Others say, it is the incumbency of a chapel, without any title or collation; such as are most of those in castles, where prayers or masses are said; and which are mere unendowed oratories. Whence the term is also applied, in the Roman church, to certain perpetual offices bestowed on canons, religious, or others, for the saying of masses, by way of augmentation of their livings. Others think it is a lease, or concession of any ecclesiastical fund or revenue, belonging to a monastery, to be enjoyed during life. Du Moulin calls it a profane benefice, which, however, has a perpetual title, and an ecclesiastical office, with certain revenues attached to it; which the incumbent is allowed to sell, and which may be possessed without tonsure; such as the lay churchwardens of Notre-dame. He adds, that, in propriety, the canonries of chapels are benefices of this nature. The most probable opinion seems to be, that pretimony is a fund, or revenue, appropriated by the founder for the subsistence of a prelate, without being erected into any title of benefice, chapel, prebend, or priory; and which is not subject either to the pope or to the ordinary, but whereof the patron, and those who have a right from him, are the collators, and nominate and confer plenior jure.