n. Roman Catholic Church 1. A tax of one penny per household paid in medieval England to the Papal See. 2. An annual voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics toward the expenses of the Holy See. Also called hearth money. [Middle English Peteres pens, pl. of Peteres peni : Peteres, genitive of Peter, Saint Peter (from the tradition that Saint Peter founded the papacy) + peni, penny; see PENNY1.] |
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