simony

- 3 dictionary results

si⋅mo⋅ny

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

–noun

1.	the making of profit out of sacred things.

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

Origin:
1175–1225; ME simonie < LL simōnia; so called from Simon Magus, who tried to purchase apostolic powers; see Simon (def. 5), -y ³

Related forms:

si⋅mon⋅ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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si·mo·ny (sī'mə-nē, sĭm'ə-)

n. The buying or selling of ecclesiastical pardons, offices, or emoluments.

[Middle English simonie, from Old French, from Late Latin simōnia, after Simon Magus, a sorcerer who tried to buy spiritual powers from the Apostle Peter (Acts 8:9-24).]
si'mo·nist n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

simony

c.1225, "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).

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