FRANKALMOIGNE, n.

The tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands on condition of praying for the soul of the donor. In mediaeval times many of the wealthiest fraternities obtained their estates in this simple and cheap manner, and once when Henry VIII of England sent an officer to confiscate certain vast possessions which a fraternity of monks held by frankalmoigne, "What!" said the Prior, "would you master stay our benefactor's soul in Purgatory?" "Ay," said the officer, coldly, "an ye will not pray him thence for naught he must e'en roast." "But look you, my son," persisted the good man, "this act hath rank as robbery of God!" "Nay, nay, good father, my master the king doth but deliver him from the manifold temptations of too great wealth."

--Ambrose Bierce - The Devil's Dictionary

Letters

Click on a letter for more definitions.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Featured definitions

CORPORATION
EARTH
FUNNY
GREED
HAPPINESS
HUMAN BEING
LIFE
PERFECTION
PSYCHOANALYSIS

About

WTF?
News
Source code