pew-rent
Definition
Noun: A pew-rent is a fee paid for the rental or reserved use of a pew (a long bench with a back) in a church. It historically refers to the money paid by a parishioner to secure a specific seat for worship services, often as a source of income for the church.
Usage Examples
- (A fee for reserving a specific bench in a church.)
- (A historical practice of charging for seating.)
Advanced Usage
"to collect pew-rent": to gather the fees from parishioners for the use of pews.
- The church warden was responsible for collecting pew-rent each Sunday. (The official gathered the seating fees.)
"pew-rent system": a historical practice where church seating was allocated based on payment.
- The pew-rent system often reflected social class, with wealthier members occupying better seats. (A method of assigning seats by payment.)
Variants and Related Words
Pew (n): a long wooden bench with a back, used for seating in a church.
- The old church had oak pews that were centuries old. (The seating was made of oak.)
Rent (n): a regular payment made for the use of property or land.
- The rent for the apartment was due on the first of the month. (A payment for using a space.)
Synonyms
- Seat fee: a charge for a specific place in a church.
- Pew fee: another term for pew-rent, emphasizing the cost for a pew.
Related Idioms
- "To hold a pew": to occupy or reserve a seat in a church.
- The family held the same pew for generations, paying the pew-rent annually. (They reserved the same seat.)