Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The official residence usually provided by a church for its parson; a rectory.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A rectory endowed with a house, glebe, lands, tithes, etc., for the maintenance of the incumbent; the benefice of a parish.
  • noun The mansion or dwelling-house of a parson or clergyman. Also called a parsonage house.
  • noun Money paid for the support of a parson.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Eng. Eccl. Law) A certain portion of lands, tithes, and offerings, for the maintenance of the parson of a parish.
  • noun The glebe and house, or the house only, owned by a parish or ecclesiastical society, and appropriated to the maintenance or use of the incumbent or settled pastor.
  • noun Scot. Money paid for the support of a parson.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A house provided by the church for a parson, vicar or rector.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Until later that night they became more curious, decided to go over to his home, which is what they call a parsonage, because essentially it's owned by the church itself.

    CNN Transcript Mar 24, 2006 2006

  • The farmers about here consider him as rolling in wealth, and I must say that, though the parsonage is absolutely bare of luxuries, one is not there often unpleasantly reminded that the parson is a poor man.

    Oldtown Folks 1869

  • The attractive three-bedroom parsonage is located on the church property.

    The Navy and Married Life 2003

  • When he called the parsonage, however, Maria Price answered the phone and informed him that Helen was spending the evening with old Mrs. Crowell, who lived but a little way from the Snow place.

    The Portygee Joseph Crosby Lincoln 1907

  • Biddlecombehad explained to me upon the subject of our conversation that night. our rough friend in the boat told truth. & his reason for so strongly objecting to your becoming an inmate at the parsonage is because the Lady [2] has not been a better women than she ought to be — nor quite so good.

    Letter 225 1797

  • Under a provision of the tax code known as the parsonage allowance, first passed in 1921, an ordained clergy member may live tax-free in a home owned by his or her religious organization or receive a tax-free annual payment to buy or rent a home if the congregation approves.

    Tax Break for Clergy Questioned Laura Saunders 2011

  • An icy chill ran down her spine as Abbie recognized the voice as belonging to the same woman who had called the parsonage the other night.

    For the Love of God Janet Dailey 1981

  • An icy chill ran down her spine as Abbie recognized the voice as belonging to the same woman who had called the parsonage the other night.

    For the Love of God Janet Dailey 1981

  • To them, the great rambling barn back of the parsonage was a most delightful place.

    Prudence of the Parsonage Ethel Hueston

  • Across the street from the parsonage was a little white cottage set back among tall cedars.

    Prudence of the Parsonage Ethel Hueston

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