simoniac

Definition

Noun: A person who practices simony, which is the buying or selling of sacred things, specifically ecclesiastical offices or spiritual benefits.

Usage Examples

• (A person guilty of selling church offices.)
• (Historical records criticized those who traded holy offices.)

Advanced Usage

• "Simoniac heresy": The belief or practice that spiritual goods can be bought or sold.

  • The council declared simoniac heresy a grave sin against divine law. (The church condemned trading sacred offices.)

• "Simoniac transaction": A specific instance of buying or selling a church office.

  • The simoniac transaction was uncovered during the papal investigation. (The corrupt deal was discovered.)

Variants and Related Words

• Simony (n): The act of buying or selling ecclesiastical privileges or offices.

  • Simony was a major scandal in the medieval Church. (The corrupt practice was widespread.)

• Simoniacal (adj): Relating to or characterized by simony.

  • The simoniacal appointment of the new abbot angered the monks. (The corrupt appointment caused outrage.)

Synonyms

• Corrupt cleric: a church official who engages in dishonest practices.
• Sacrilegious trader: someone who treats holy things as commercial goods.

Related Idioms

• "To buy a benefice": To obtain a church position through payment.

  • He bought a benefice in the diocese, a clear act of a simoniac. (He purchased a church office corruptly.)

• "To sell holy orders": To confer church offices in exchange for money.

  • The cardinal was accused of selling holy orders to wealthy nobles. (He was a simoniac.)