benefit of clergy (redirected from Clergy, Benefit of)

benefit of clergy

n.

1. The authorized sanction of a religious rite: cohabiting without benefit of clergy.

2. Exemption from trial or punishment in a civil court, given to the clergy in the Middle Ages.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

benefit of clergy - sanction by a religious rite; "they are living together without benefit of clergy" sanction - the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the church"