donative, a. and n.
(ˈdɒnətɪv, ˈdəʊnətɪv)
[ad. L. dōnātīvus adj., whence dōnātīv-um n. donation, largess, f. dōnāre: see donate, and -ive.]
A. adj.
1. Characterized by being given or presented; of the nature of a donation: esp. of a benefice: Vesting or vested by donation; opposed to presentative.
| 1559 in Strype Ann. Ref. I. App. viii. 22 Foundations of free-chappels, and other howses ecclesiastical by the kings lycence, to be donatyve and not presentatyve. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry vi. iii. (1611) 260 To these donatiue augmentations of Armes I will adde certaine Armes assumptiue. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xi. 382 The deanery is donative, and the installation merely by the king's letters patent. 1875 Bp. Magee in Parl. 1 June, The holder of a donative living owes no obedience to his diocesan. |
† 2. ‘That is able or apt to give’ (Blount Glossogr. 1656). Obs.
B. n.
1. A donation, gift, present; esp. one given formally or officially, as a largess or bounty.
| c 1430 Lydgate Balade of our Ladie xi, O mirthe of martyrs, sweter then Sitole of Confessours also richest donatife. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 361 b, The Graunt, & Donative of Ludovicus Pius. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. ii. v. §7 The Romane Emperours custome was at certaine solemne times to bestow on his Souldiers a Donatiue. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe (1871) 17 The devout oblations and donatives of the fishermen. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. v. 313 Francis I gave the Grand Master a Royal Reception, accompanied with a Princely Donative. 1843 J. Martineau Chr. Life (1867) 171 [Christ] ranked the widow's mite above the vast donatives of vanity. |
2. spec. A benefice which the founder or patron can bestow without presentation to or investment by the ordinary.
| 1564 W. Bullein Dial. agst. Pest. (1888) 83 He would faine haue a benefice or personage of some pretie donatiue; he cannot get it at the bishoppes handes. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 297 The King can create or found a Donative exempt from the visitation of the ordinary. 1772 Warton & Huddesford Life Hearne 26 He was presented to the Donative or Curacy of Elsfield near Oxford. 1877 J. C. Cox Ch. Derbysh. III. 84 This living was a donative, from the dissolution of the monasteries to the first year of Anne. |
† 3. One who is presented to a benefice. Obs. rare.
| 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xxvii. (1739) 127 In their Original, Bishops were meerly Donatives from the Crown, invested by delivery of the Ring and Pastoral Staff. |
Hence ˈdonatively adv., by way of a donation.
| 1827 G. S. Faber Orig. Exp. Sacr. ii. iii. 64 Donatively presenting..sacrifices and vows and libations. |