Avowry

/əˈvaʊɹi/ · noun

Meaning

(law) The act of avowing and justifying in one's own right the distraining of goods..

Definitions by Sense

1. (law) The act of avowing and justifying in one's own right the distraining of goods.
2. (historical) A form of medieval patronage in which colonial tenants, often from criminal backgrounds, were guaranteed protection by an English lord in exchange for the payment of a tax.
3. (ecclesiastical) Advowson, the right to appoint to a benefice or office.
4. (obsolete) Avowal (open affirmation or admission).
5. (obsolete) A protector, especially a patron saint.

Example Sentences

Every avowant, and other person, that makes avowry or conusance, or justifies as baily, in replevin or second deliverance, for rent, custom or service, if the plaintiff be barred, shall recover damages and costs.

It would not be accurate to assume that the whole of the income from the avowries represented sums of 4d., though that seems to have been the standard annual payment, for there were, we know, other fees and income arising from avowry.

The system of “avowries”, probably intended originally as a means first and foremost of colonizing a sparsely-populated land, created “a useful military reserve” composed in part at least of hardened criminals; […]

Further, outside such a settled neighbourhood as Dublin there was also a system of ‘avowries’, rather like that in Wales and Chester: Irishmen paid English lords small sums to be under their protection.

The endemic violence characteristic of the Welsh March was further aggravated by the existence within the county of criminal sanctuaries or avowries which attracted criminal elements into Cheshire and into the retinues of the Hundred Years War.

But it is as plain that before those Statuts, if the Rectors of two Churches of severall Auowries, had controuerted the right of a fourth part (or of the value of either of their Churches more) in Tithes, by suit commenced in the spirituall Court, the Patron of the Rector-defendant might haue had an Indicauit, to prohibit the prosecution and holding of the Plea. […] [Bracton] mentions no Writ of right of Aduowson of Tithes that should follow.

[…] there is a reference to the Charter, and an enactment again, that as to those ecclesiastical dignities, which were of the avowry of the Crown, that the elections should be free, saving the rights of the Crown as the patron and founder of those benefices.

We have a further recital of previous legislation (35 Edward I.) showing that the Pope in detriment to the advowry of people of Holy Church had been in the habit of disposing of archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbeys, priories, and benefices, and reserving the first fruits for himself, […]

Synonyms for avowry

Antonyms for avowry

Related Words

Word Forms

• avowries
• advowry

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions