mortal sin
13
8.2
- noun
- /ˈmɔrtəl sɪn/
- Specialized
:
pecado mortal
- Many believe that betrayal of trust is a mortal sin that harms both the betrayer and the betrayed.
- commit a mortal sin
Just as cowardice is a mortal sin in the individual, it is a mortal sin at the population level.
- Just as cowardice is a mortal sin in the individual, it is a mortal sin at the population level.
- I mentioned the drugs, but one mortal sin is enough to open the door.
- And like I said, if giving a child chicken Nuggets and French fries is a mortal sin, then heaven help us all.
Examples
-
You're living in mortal sin, and I cannot absolve you while you keep this attitude.
Fiction book (1998) -
When a person commits a mortal sin, that person must go to confession or risk losing Heaven!
Blog text (23) -
And what are the 3 conditions for mortal sin?
-
How would you like to die in a state of mortal sin?
-
Any sexual act outside of marriage was considered a mortal sin.
Academic text (1999) -
The priest has committed a mortal sin and must go to confession and truly be sorry.
Blog text (2) -
The church officially viewed adultery as a mortal sin, regardless of whether it was committed by the husband or the wife.
Academic text (2002) -
I beg you to repent and confess, that your mortal sins may be blotted out.
Fiction book (2002) -
In many religious teachings, lying intentionally is considered a mortal sin that can lead to severe consequences.
-
According to church doctrine, committing adultery is classified as a mortal sin that separates one from God's grace.
Synonyms
8
8.1
A very serious wrong action in Christian belief that leads to spiritual death unless you ask for forgiveness
Antonyms
- Specialized
2
8.9
A less serious wrong in Christianity that does not separate you from God
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'mortal' (deadly/very serious) and 'sin' (wrongdoing) will likely infer that a 'mortal sin' is a very serious or 'deadly' sin, so the basic sense is compositional and cross-linguistically paralleled (e.g. Spanish 'pecado mortal'). However, the specific theological nuance — that it leads to total loss of divine grace or requires specific conditions to be classified as such — is specialized and not fully predictable from the words alone, so the expression is not fully transparent.
Etymology
Mortal sin uses mortal meaning 'deadly' and sin meaning 'wrongdoing', creating the picture of an act that brings 'death' to the soul. That's why mortal sin means a very serious sin that ends a person's connection with God unless they ask for forgiveness.