Word of the Day

Monday, February 07, 2000

venial

\VEE-nee-uhl\ , adjective;

Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable.

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Quotes:

Look less severely on a venial error.

-- Jean Racine, Phaedra (translated by Robert Bruce Boswell)

His mistake might in other circumstances have seemed a venial one.

-- Michael Knox Beran, The Last Patrician

Committing adultery was a mortal sin, while eating meat on Fridayswas a venial sin.

-- Sheryl McCarthy, "O'Connor Proposal for Meatless Day Is Thoughtless", Newsday, August 12, 1996

Origin:

Venial comes from Latin venia, "grace, indulgence, favor." It is not to be confused with venal, which means "capable of being bought; salable; open to bribery," and comes from Latin venum "sale." Remember that venial, like sin, has an i in it.