Simonianism 
We have ... in Simonianistn a rival system to Chris- 
tianity, in which the same advantages are offered, and in 
which accordingly Christian elements are embodied, even 
Christ Himself being identified with the Supreme God 
(Simon). Encyc. Brit., XXII. 80. 
simonicalt (si-mon'i-kal), n. Same as simonia- 
caL 
Fees exacted or demanded for Sacraments, Marriages, 
Burials, and especially for interring, are wicked, accursed, 
simonical, and abominable. Milton, Touching Hirelings. 
simonioust (si-mo'ni-us), a. [< simony (ML. si- 
Mii/tin) + -HUS.] Simouiacal. 
Deliver us, the only People of all Protestants left still 
undeliver'd, from the Oppressions of a simonious deci- 
mating Clergy. Milton, To the Parliament. 
simonist 1 (sim'o-nist), . [< simony + -ist.] 
One who practises or defends simony. [Rare.] 
Wulfer not without a stain left behind him, of selling 
the Bishoprick of London to Wini, the first Simonist we 
read of in this story. Milton, Hist. Eng., iv. 
He that with observing and weeping eyes beholds . . . 
our lawyers turned truth-defrauders, our landlords op- 
pressors, our gentlemen rioters, our patrons sim&niste 
would surely say, This is Satan's walk. 
Rev. T. Adams, Works, II. 47. 
Simonist 2 (si'mpn-ist), a. and . [< Simon (see 
Simonian) + -isi.~] Same as Simonian. Encyc. 
Brit., XI. 854. 
simon-pure (si'mpn-pur'), a. [So called in al- 
lusion to Simon Pure, a character in Mrs. Cent- 
livre's comedy, " A Bold Stroke for a Wife," 
who is thwarted in his undertakings by an im- 
postor who lays claim to his name and rights, 
and thus necessitates a complete identification 
of the "real Simon Pure" (v. 1).] Genuine; 
authentic; true. [Colloq.] 
The home of the Simon-pure wild horse Is on the south- 
ern plains. The Century, XXXVII. 337. 
Simon's operation. See operation. 
simony (sim'o-ni), . [< ME. simonie, symony, 
symonye, < F. simonie = Sp. simonia = Pr. Pg. 
It. simonia, < ML. simonia, simony, so called 
from Simon Magus, because he wished to pur- 
chase the gift of the Holy Ghost with money; 
< LL. Simon, < Gr. Siftwv, Simon: see Sittioiiiaii.] 
The act or practice of trafficking in sacred 
things; particularly, the buying or selling of 
ecclesiastical preferment, or the corrupt pres- 
entation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice 
for money or reward. 
For hit is symonye to sulle that send is of grace. 
Piers Plowman (C), x. 55. 
The Name of Simony was begot in the Canon-Law ; the 
first Statute against it was in Queen Elizabeth's time. 
Since the Reformation Simony has been frequent. One 
reason why it was not practised in time of Popery was the 
Pope's provision ; no man was sure to bestow his own 
Benefice. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 148. 
"Simony, according to the canonists," says Ayliffe in his 
Parergon, " is denned to be a deliberate act or a premedi- 
tated will and desire of selling such things as are spiritual, 
or of anything annexed unto spirituals, by giving some- 
thing of a temporal nature for the purchase thereof ; or in 
other terms it is defined to be a commutation of a thing 
spiritual or annexed unto spirituals by giving something 
that is temporal." Encyc. Brit., XXII. 84. 
simonyite (sim'o-ni-lt), . [So called after F. 
Simony, of Hallstadt, the discoverer.] Same as 
tiSdite. 
simool (si-m6T), . [E. Ind.] The East Indian 
silk-cotton tree, Bombax Malabarica. 
simoom (si-mom'), n. [Also simoon; = F. si- 
moun, semoun = D. simoem = G. samum = Sw. 
samum, senmm, simum = Dan. samum = Turk. 
semiim = Pers. Hind, samum, < Ar. samum, a 
sultry pestilential wind, so called from its de- 
structive nature ; < samma, he poisoned, samm, 
poisoning. Cf. sarnicl.] An intensely hot dry 
wind prevalent in the Arabian desert, and on 
the heated plains of Sind and Kandahar, sud- 
den in its occurrence, moving in a straight, nar- 
row track, and characterized by its suffocating 
effects. In the Arabian desert the simoom generally moves 
from south or east to north and west, and occupies from 
five to ten minutes in its passage ; it is probably a whirl- 
wind set in motion in the overheated air of the desert. The 
traveler seeks protection against the gusts of sand and 
the suffocating, dust-laden air, by covering his head with 
a cloth and throwing himself upon the ground ; and camels 
instinctively bury their noses in the sand. The desiccat- 
ing wind parches the skin, inflames the throat, and creates 
a raging thirst. 
simorg, n. Same as simuro. 
Simornynchus (sim-o-ring v kus), n. [NL., < Gr. 
o-i/idf, flat-nosed, snub-nosed, + 'p'vyxof, snout.] 
A genus of small gymnorhinal Alcidse of the 
North Pacific, having the bill diversiform with 
deciduous elements, the head usually crested 
in the breeding-season, the feet small with en- 
tirely reticulate tarsi shorter than the middle 
toe, and the wings and tail ordinary ; the snub- 
nosed auklets. They are among the smallest birds of 
the family. S. psittaculus is the parrakeet auklet; S. 
5638 
cristatellus, the crested auklet ; S. pygmxus, the whisker- 
ed auklet ; and S. puxillus, the least auklet. The genus 
was founded by _M errem in 1819 ; it is sometimes dismem- 
bered into Simorhynchus proper, Ombria or Phalerig, Ty- 
lorhamphus, and Ciceronia. See cut under auklet. 
simosity (si-mos'i-ti), . [< simous + -ity.] 
The state of being simous. Bailey, 1731. 
simous (si'mus), a. [< L. simus = Gr. oipuf, 
flat-nosed, snub-nosed.] 1. Snub-nosed; hav- 
inga flattened or turned-up nose. 2f. Concave. 
The concave or simous part of the liver. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err. 
simpai (sim'pl), n. [Native name in Sumatra.] 
The black-crested monkey, SemnopMectts nte- 
lnloi>liiix, of Sumatra, having a long slender 
body, tail, and limbs, and highly variegated 
coloration. 
simpathyf , n. An obsolete spelling of sympathy. 
simper 1 (sim'per), i'. An obsolete or dialectal 
variant of simmer^. Palsgrave; Florio. 
simper 2 (sim'per), v. i. [Not found in early 
use ; prob. ult. < Norw. semper, fine, smart, = 
Dan. dial, semper, simper, affected, coy, pru- 
dish, esp. of one who requires pressing to eat, 
= OSw. semper, also simp, sipp, a woman who 
affectedly refuses to eat, Sw. sipp, finical, prim, 
= Dan. sippe, a woman who is affectedly coy, 
= LG. sipp, a word expressing the gesture of a 
compressed mouth, and affected pronunciation 
(Jumfer Sipp, ' Miss Sipp,' a woman who acts 
thus affectedly) ; a particular use derived from 
the verb sip, take a little drink at a time, hence 
be affected over food, be prim and coy: see sip. 
Cf. also prov. G. zimpern, be affectedly coy; 
zipp, prudish, coy; prob. < LG. The verb has 
prob. been influenced by the now obs. or dial. 
simper^ (to which simper* in def. 2 may perhaps 
really belong).] 1. To smile in an affected, silly 
manner; smirk. 
I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women 
as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hates them 
that . . . the play may please. 
Shalt., As you Like it, Epil., 1. 16. 
AH men adore, 
And simper, and set their voices lower, 
And soften as if to a girl. Tennyson, Maud, x. 
2f. To twinkle ; glimmer. 
Lys. The candles are all out 
!.<' n. But one i' the parlour ; 
I see it simper hither. 
Fletcher (and Massinger 1), Lovers' Progress, lit 2. 
Yet can I mark how stars above 
Simper and shine. G. Herbert, The Search. 
= Syn. 1. Simper and Smirk both express smiling ; the pri- 
mary idea of the first is silliness or simplicity ; that of the 
second is affectation or conceit. The simplicity in simper- 
ing may be affected ; the affectation in smirking may be 
of softness or of kindness. 
simper 2 (sim'per), . [< simper" 2 , .] An af- 
fected, conscious smile ; a smirk. 
No City Dame is demurer than she [a handsome bar- 
maid] at first Greeting, nor draws in her Mouth with a 
Chaster Simper; but in a little time you may be more 
familiar, and she'll hear a double Entendre without blush- 
ing. Quoted in Ashton's Social Life in Reign of Queen 
[Anne, I. 218. 
They should be taught the act of managing their smiles, 
from the contemptuous simper to the long laborious laugh. 
Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, Ixxxviii. 
simperer (sim'per-er), n. [< simper? + -ej-i.] 
One who simpers. 
Doffing his cap to city dame, 
Who smiled and blush'd for pride and shame ; 
And well the simperer might be vain 
He chose the fairest of the train. 
Scott, L. of the L., T. 21. 
simpering (sim'per-ing), p. a. [Verbal n. of 
simper 2 , t>.] Wearing or accompanied by a 
simper; hence, affected; silly. 
Mr. Legality is a cheat ; and for his son Civility, not- 
withstanding his simpering looks, he is hut a hypocrite, 
and cannot help thee. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, i. 
Smiling with a simprino grace. 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 29. 
Forming his features into a set smile, and affectedly soft- 
ening his voice, he added, with a simpering air, " Have you 
been long in Bath, Madam?" 
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, iii. 
simperingly (sim'per-ing-li), adv. In a simper- 
ing manner; affectedly. 
A man-hunt's wife, that . . . lookes as simperingly as if 
she were besmeared. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse, p. 21. 
simple (sim'pl), a. and . [Early mod. E. also 
symple; Sc. semple, < ME. simple, symple, sym- 
pill, sympylle (= D. MLG. G. Sw. Dan. simpel), 
< OF. simple, F. simple = Pr. simple, semple = 
Sp. simple = Pg. simples = It. semplice, < L. sim- 
plex (simpHc-), simple, lit. 'onefold,' as op- 
posed to duplex, twofold, double, < sim-, the 
same (which appears also in sin-guH, one by 
one. sem-ptr, always, alike, sem-el, once, sim-nl, 
together), + plicare, fold : see same and ply. Cf. 
simple 
single^, singular, simultaneous, etc., from the 
same ult. root. Hence ult. simplicity, simpli- 
fy^ T. a. 1. Without parts, either absolutely, 
or of a special kind alone considered; elemen- 
tary; uucompouuded: as, a simple substance; 
a simple concept; a simple distortion. 
For compound sweet forgoing simple savour. 
Shak., Sonnets, cxxv. 
A prune and simple Essence, vncompounded. 
lleyivood, Hierarchy of Angels, p. 75. 
Among substances some are called simple, some are com- 
pound, whether the words be taken in a philosophical or 
vulgar sense. Watts, Logic, I. ii. 2. 
Belief, however simple a thing it appears at first sight, 
is really a highly composite state of mind. 
./. Sully, Sensation and Intuition, p. 74. 
2. Having few parts; free from complexity or 
complication; uninvolved; not elaborate; not 
modified. Hence (a) Rudimentary ; low in the scale of 
organization, as an animal or a plant. Compare defs. 10, 11. 
Nevertheless, low and simple forms will long endure if 
well fitted for their simple conditions of life. 
Darwin, Origin of Species, p. 134. 
(b) Without elaborate and rich ornamentation : not load- 
ed with extrinsic details ; plain ; beautiful, if at all, in its 
essential parts and their relations. 
He rode in symple aray. 
LytM Geste of Robyn Uode (Child's Ballads, V. 48). 
The simple cadence, embracing but a few notes, which in 
the chants of savages is monotonously repeated, becomes, 
among civilized races, a long series of different musical 
phrases combined into one whole. 
H. Spencer, First Principles, 114. 
The arcades themselves, though very good and simple, 
do not carry out the wonderful boldness and originality of 
the outer range. E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 249. 
(c) Without sauce or condiment ; without luxurious or 
unwholesome accompaniments : as, a simple diet ; a simple 
repast 
After crysten-masse com the crabbed lentoun, 
That fraystes [tries] flesch wyth the fysche & fode more 
symple. 
Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. S.), 1. 503. 
Bless'd be those feasts with simple plenty crown'd. 
Goldsmith, The Traveller, 1. 17. 
(d) Mere ; pure : sheer ; absolute. 
A medicine . . . whose simple touch 
Is powerful to araise King Pepin. 
Shak., All's Well, 11. 1. 78. 
If we could contrive to be not too unobtrusively our 
simple selves, we should be the most delightful of human 
beings, and the most original. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 69. 
3. Plain in dress, manner, or deportment; 
hence, making no pretense ; unaffected; unas- 
suming ; unsophisticated ; artless ; sincere. 
With that com the kynge Loot and his knyghtes down 
the medowes alle on foote, and hadde don of tin-ire 
helmes from theire heedes and valed theire coiffes of 
mayle vpon theire sholderes, and com full symple. 
Merlin (E. E. T. &), iil. 478. 
She sobre was, ek symple. and wyse withalle, 
The best ynorissed ek that myghte be. 
Chaucer, Troilus, v. 820. 
Arthur . . . neither wore on helm or shield 
The golden symbol of his kingllhood, 
But rode a simple knight among his knights. 
Tennyson, Coming of Arthur. 
4. Of little value or importance ; insignificant ; 
trifling. 
The! were so astoned with the hete of the fler that theire 
deffence was but symple. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.1 i. 116. 
For the ill turn that thou hast done 
'Tis but a simple fee. 
Robin Hood, and the Beggar (Child's Ballads, V. 200). 
Great floods have flown 
From simple sources. Shak., All's Well, it 1. 148. 
6. Without rank; lowly; humble; poor. 
Be ffi.stf ul & fre & euer of faire speche, 
it seruisabul to the simple so as to the riche. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), L 338. 
There 's wealth an' ease for gentlemen, 
An' simple folk maun fight an' fen. 
Buna, Gane is the Day. 
6. Deficient in the mental effects of experience 
and education; unlearned; unsophisticated; 
hence, silly; incapable of understanding a sit- 
uation of affairs ; easily deceived. 
And oftentyraes it hath be sene expresse, 
In grete materys, withouten eny fayle, 
A sympill mannys councell may prevayle. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.X L 1211. 
And though I were but a simple man voide of learning, 
yet stil I had in remembrance that Christ dyed for me. 
E. Webbe, Travels (ed. ArberX p. 29. 
You will not believe that Sir James Grey will be so aim- 
plesiato leave Venice, whither with difficulty he obtained 
to be sent. Walpole, Letters, II. 101. 
7. Proceeding from ignorance or folly; evi- 
dencing a lack of sense or knowledge. 
Their wise men . . . scoff'd at him 
And this high Quest as at a simple thing. 
Tennyson, Holy Grail. 
8. Presenting no difficulties or obstacles ; easi- 
ly done, used, understood, or the like ; adapted 
