Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:
The bishop condemned the act as simony, citing canonical law.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. The alchemist failed to explain the simony in his formulas.
Correct Word: Simony
Meaning: The buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, for example, pardons or benefices.
Example: The medieval church struggled to eliminate simony among its high-ranking officials.
Explanation of the Homonym in Context:
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings.
In the first sentence, simony refers to a religious offense (selling church offices).
In the chosen option, the word is used in a pseudo-scientific or alchemical context, implying a different specialized meaning or a symbolic "formulaic" exchange, which creates the homonymic relationship.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.