venial
3
8.3
- adjective
- /ˈviːniəl/
- In Sister Mary Benedict's catechism class, we mainly discussed sin: sins of omission and commission, venial sins and mortal sins.
- venial sin
- commit venial
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Watch on YouTubeWho's rotten, who's corrupt, who's just venial, who can be relied upon, who has a good heart, how far the relationship can go.
- Who's rotten, who's corrupt, who's just venial, who can be relied upon, who has a good heart, how far the relationship can go.
Examples
-
Now, these offenses, venial though they may be, against Fowler's Modern English Usage have got to cease.
Blog text (21) -
Recitations of accomplishments are balanced with public confessions of venial sins.
Academic text (1995) -
At the very least, you two are "playing with fire" and probably engaging in venial sin.
Blog text (21) -
There are different types of sin: mortal sin and venial sin.
Blog text (2) -
If they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip.
-
I think it's just a three-hail-Mary level venial sin.
Blog text (7) -
God won't be pleased with my lying, but it's only a venial sin.
Academic text (2008) -
Perhaps because the authors have drawn them with such open vulnerability, their cheating seems venial; they are far more endearing than threatening.
Academic text (1999) -
In the context of forgiveness, a venial fault can often be overlooked.
-
She felt that her minor mistake was merely a venial offense that could be easily forgiven.
Synonyms
7
3.3
Not very serious, so people usually excuse it
6
3.6
Someone can forgive it because of the situation, for example an honest mistake
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
2
8.9
A less serious wrong in Christianity that does not separate you from God
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
venial = veni + al
The root is a Latin combining form not a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from the components.
Etymology
Venial comes from the Latin word venia, which means 'pardon' or 'forgiveness'. So a venial fault is one people can easily forgive and is not very serious.