Simony

[saimәni]

Definition

(noun.) traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments.

Typed by Gwendolyn--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward.

Editor: Tod

Definition

n. the crime of buying or selling presentation to a benefice so named from Simon Magus who thought to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit with money (Acts viii.).—n. Simō′niac one guilty of simony.—adjs. Simonī′acal Simō′nious (obs.) pertaining to guilty of or involving simony.—adv. Simonī′acally.—n. Sī′monist one who practises or defends simony.

Edited by Darrell