Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Simony"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Simony \Sim"o*ny\, n. [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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
simony
n : traffic in ecclesiastical offices or preferments
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