/fuy'dee uy keuh mis"euhm/ , n. , pl. fideicommissa /-mis"euh/ . Civil Law.
a request by a decedent that the heir or legatee to the estate convey a specified part of the estate to another person, or permit another person to enjoy such a part.
[ 1720-30; fidei commissum entrusted to faith, equiv. to fidei, dat. sing. of fides FAITH + commissum, ptp. of committere to COMMIT ]