SIMONY

simony, barratry

(noun) traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

simony (countable and uncountable, plural simonies)

The buying or selling of spiritual or sacred things, such as ecclesiastical offices, pardons, or consecrated objects.

Synonyms

• Simonism

Coordinate terms

• barratry

Anagrams

• Nimoys, isonym, myosin

Source: Wiktionary

Sim"o*ny, n. Etym: [F. simonie, LL. simonia, fr. Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit. Acts viii.]

Definition: The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward. Piers Plowman.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition