Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

simony

[sahy-muh-nee, sim-uh-]

Origin

noun

the making of profit out of sacred things.

the sin of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferments, benefices, etc.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English simonie < Late Latin simōnia; so called from Simon Magus, who tried to purchase apostolic powers; see Simon (def. 5), -y³

Related forms

si·mon·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To simony

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Simony is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

simony (ˈsaɪmənɪ)

—n
	Christianity the practice, now usually regarded as a sin, of buying or selling spiritual or Church benefits such as pardons, relics, etc, or preferments

[C13: from Old French simonie, from Late Latin sīmōnia, from the name of Simon Magus]

'simonist

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

simony

early 13c., "the buying or selling of sacred things," from O.Fr. simonie, from L.L. simonia, from Simon Magus, the Samaritan magician who was rebuked by Peter when he tried to buy the power of confering the Holy Spirit (Acts viii:18-20).

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for simony?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Related Words

simoniac

Matching Quote

"The Devil begat darkness; darkness begat ignorance; ignorance begat error and his brethren; error begat free- will and presumption; free-will begat works; works begat forgetfulness of God; forgetfulness begat transgression; transgression begat superstition; superstition begat satisfaction; satisfaction begat the mass-offering; the mass-offering begat the priest; the priest begat unbelief; unbelief begat hypocrisy; hypocrisy begat traffic in offerings for gain; traffic in offerings for gain begat Purgatory; Purgatory begat the annual solemn vigils; the annual vigils begat church-livings; church-livings begat avarice; avarice begat swelling superfluity; swelling superfluity begat fulness; fulness begat rage; rage begat license; license begat empire and domination; domination begat pomp; pomp begat ambition; ambition begat simony; simony begat the pope and his brethren, about the time of the Babylonish captivity."

-Martin Luther

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help

simony

si·mo·ny