A cleric who held more than one Church office, e.g. *prebend or *benefice. It was common practice in this period. Many pluralists were foreigners appointed by the pope; such men were doubly resented. However, some senior members of the Church, e.g. Bishop Grosseteste (d. 1253), forswore the practice, encouraging others to do the same, esp. foreigners unable to speak English.
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.