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Webster 1913 Edition

Simony

Sim′o-ny

,
Noun.
[F.
simonie
, LL.
simonia
, fr.
Simon
Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit.
Acts
viii.]
The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward.
Piers Plowman.

Webster 1828 Edition

Simony

SIM'ONY

,
Noun.
[from Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit. Act 8.] The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; or the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice of money or reward. By Stat. 31 Elizabeth,
c.
6. severe penalties are enacted against this crime.

Definition 2024

simony

simony

English

Noun

simony ‎(plural simonies)

  1. The act of buying and selling ecclesiastical offices and pardons.
    • 1989, Anthony Burgess, ‘Hun’, The Devil’s Mode:
      ‘There are those two,’ he then said, ‘who were recently arraigned on a charge of high simony. Fancying a monstrance and stealing it and proposing to sell it. They pleaded the usual pagan ignorance.’
    • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p. 37:
      He openly practiced simony; in other words, he sold benefices.

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Etymology

From Old French simonie, from Late Latin simonia, named from Simon Magus, with reference to Acts 8:18-20:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying 'Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost’. But Peter said unto him ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (KJV)

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈsaɪ.mə.ni/, /ˈsɪ.mə.ni/

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