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Venal
6 dictionary results for: Venal
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ve·nal       [veen-l] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.willing to sell one's influence, esp. in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge.
2.able to be purchased, as by a bribe: venal acquittals.
3.associated with or characterized by bribery: a venal administration; venal agreements.
[Origin: 1645–55; < L vénālis, equiv. to vén(um) (acc.) for sale (cf. vend) + -ālis -al1]

—Related forms
ve·nal·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. bribable, corruptible. See corrupt.
—Antonyms 1. incorruptible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ve·nal       (vē'nəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
    1. Open to bribery; mercenary: a venal police officer.
    2. Capable of betraying honor, duty, or scruples for a price; corruptible.
  2. Marked by corrupt dealings, especially bribery: a venal administration.
  3. Obtainable for a price.


[Latin vēnālis, from vēnum, sale; see wes-3 in Indo-European roots.]

ve'nal·ly adv.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
venal 
1652, "offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price," from Fr. vénal, from L. venalis "that is for sale," from venum (nom. *venus) "for sale," from PIE base *wes- "to buy, sell" (cf. Skt. vasnah "purchase money," vasnam "reward," vasnayati "he bargains, haggles;" Gk. onos "price paid, purchase," oneisthai "to buy"). Venality is attested from 1611, from L.L. venalitatem (nom. venalitas) "capable of being bought," from venalis.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
venal

adjective
capable of being corrupted; "corruptible judges"; "dishonest politicians"; "a purchasable senator"; "a venal police officer" [syn: corruptible] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Venal

Mer"ce*na*ry\, a. [OE. mercenarie, F. mercenaire, fr. L. mercenarius, fr. merces wages, reward. See Mercy.]

1. Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

2. Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. --Shak.

For God forbid I should my papers blot With mercenary lines, with servile pen. --Daniel.

Syn: See Venal.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Venal

Ve"nal\, a. [L. vena a vein.] Of or pertaining to veins; venous; as, venal blood. [R.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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