able to be forgiven or pardoned; not seriously wrong, as a sin ( opposed to mortal ).
2.
excusable; trifling; minor: a venial error; a venial offense.
Origin: 1250–1300;Middle English < Medieval Latinveniālis, equivalent to Latinveni(a) grace, favor, indulgence (akin to venus; see venerate, Venus) + -ālis-al1
c.1300, from O.Fr. venial, from L. venialis "pardonable," from venia "forgiveness, indulgence, pardon," related to venus "sexual love, desire" (see Venus).