venial

English

Etymology

From Old French venial, from Late Latin veniālis (“pardonable”), from Latin venia (“forgiveness”)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈviːni.əl/

Adjective

venial (comparative more venial, superlative most venial)

  1. Pardonable; able to be forgiven.
    • A venial sin.
    • Shelley, Mary, "The last man"
      He did not say that he should favour such an attempt; But he did say that such an attempt would be venial.
  2. Excusable; trifling
    His venial youthful indiscretions.

Usage notes

Do not confuse venial behavior (mildly wrong behavior) with venal behavior (bribery/corruption).

Antonyms

Translations

Anagrams

Old French

Alternative forms

Adjective

venial m (oblique and nominative feminine singular veniale)

  1. venial

Descendants

Portuguese

Adjective

venial m, f (plural veniais, comparable)

  1. venial (pardonable; able to be forgiven)
  2. venial (excusable; trifling)

Synonyms

Spanish

Adjective

venial (plural veniales)

  1. venial, petty
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