What does residentiary mean?
Residentiary is a formal word connected with the official residence of a member of the clergy. As an adjective, it describes an appointment, privilege, building, or other matter associated with such a residence. As a noun, a residentiary is ordinarily a residentiary canon: a cleric who lives in an official residence provided within a cathedral close or a comparable ecclesiastical foundation. The word distinguishes residence as an institutional entitlement from ordinary residence as a place where a person happens to live. It is consequently found mainly in Anglican, legal, and historical contexts rather than everyday speech. Although modern readers may associate clergy with private homes, the concept behind residentiary reflects the older organization of ecclesiastical communities, where senior members often lived together within or near the institution they served.
Relating to an official residence, especially the residence of a member of the clergy.
"The chapter accepted a residentiary appointment for the new canon."
Chiefly ecclesiastical and institutional.
A member of the clergy, especially a cathedral canon, who holds an official residence.
"Every residentiary received a key to the houses adjoining the cathedral."
The noun is rare and is most often modified by 'canon'.
The plural is rare and is used when referring to clergy who hold official residences.
"The residentiaries met with the dean in the cathedral close."
A residentiary is, quite literally, a cleric with a home in the cathedral close.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does residentiary come from?
The word belongs to the Latin family of residere, meaning 'to reside' or 'sit back', and residentia, meaning 'residence'. English developed the adjective and noun through a form associated with residentia and the suffix -ary. Its ecclesiastical use developed from the tradition of cathedral and collegiate clergy who held residences within or near their institutions.
How residentiary is actually used
This is a formal and uncommon term, used chiefly in Anglican and related ecclesiastical contexts. It is more frequently encountered in legal, institutional, and historical writing than in ordinary conversation.
Easily confused with residentiary
A resident is anyone who lives in a particular place, whereas a residentiary is specifically a cleric entitled to an official residence.
A residuary bequest is what remains after other debts and gifts have been settled, whereas residentiary refers to an official clerical residence.