BENEFI'CIARY, a. [L.beneficiarius. See Benefaction.]
Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; having a dependent and secondary possession.
BENEFI'CIARY, n. One who holds a benefice. A beneficiary is not the proprietor of the revenues of his church; but he has the administration of them, without being accountable to any person. The word was used, in the middle ages, for a feudatory, or vassal.
1. One who receives any thing as a gift, or is maintained by charity.
