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veniality

 - 2 dictionary results

ve⋅ni⋅al

  [vee-nee-uhl, veen-yuhl]
Use veniality in a Sentence
–adjective
1. 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; ME < ML veniālis, equiv. to L veni(a) grace, favor, indulgence (akin to venus; see venerate, Venus ) + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
ve⋅ni⋅al⋅i⋅ty, ve⋅ni⋅al⋅ness, noun
ve⋅ni⋅al⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. slight, pardonable, forgivable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To veniality
ve·ni·al   (vē'nē-əl, vēn'yəl)   
adj.  

  1. Easily excused or forgiven; pardonable: a venial offense.

  2. Roman Catholic Church Minor, therefore warranting only temporal punishment.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin veniālis, from Latin venia, forgiveness; see wen-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ve'ni·al'i·ty (vē'nē-āl'ĭ-tē, vēn-yāl'-), ve'ni·al·ness (vē'nē-əl-nĭs, vēn'yəl-) n., ve'ni·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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