Religious Glossary - common terms used related to Religion
Tithe - Literally a "tenth", a medieval form of tax
often owed to the liege lord or to the church as rent on land.
Sometimes the tithe could be as much as thirty percent, but
ten or fifteen was normal. When tithes were collected no other
taxes were normally due on the property, and the tithe seems
to have been a percent of production, not value. (chronique).
A tithe (from Old English teogotha "tenth") is a one-tenth
part of something, paid as a voluntary contribution or as
a tax or levy, usually to support a religious organization.
Today, tithes (or tithing) are normally voluntary and paid
in cash, checks, or stocks, whereas historically tithes could
be paid in kind, such as agricultural products. There are
still European countries today that allow some churches to
assess a mandatory tithe which is enforced by law. (wikipedia)
A kind of tax paid to a clergymen to help support him and
the church.
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