Final answer:
The term 'piety' in the given sentence refers to a person's religious devotion or respect for the divine, and the most fitting definition from the choices is 'devotion'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word piety in "Simon Finch's piety was only exceeded by his stinginess," relates to the level of religious devotion or respect for the divine that a person exhibits. Therefore, the word that most nearly defines the underlined word, 'piety,' is devotion(d). This aligns with the fact that piety refers to a person's devoutness or piousness, particularly in a religious context.
The term 'piety' in the given sentence refers to a person's religious devotion or respect for the divine, and the most fitting definition from the choices is 'devotion'.