Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Venial"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Venial \Ve"ni*al\, a. [OF. venial, F. v['e]niel, L. venialis,
from venia forgiveness, pardon, grace, favor, kindness; akin
to venerari to venerate. See {Venerate}.]
1. Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable;
pardonable; as, a venial fault or transgression.
So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip. --Shak.
2. Allowed; permitted. [Obs.] ``Permitting him the while
venial discourse unblamed.'' --Milton.
{Venial sin} (R. C. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does
not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, as do mortal, or
deadly, sins. -- {Ve"ni*al*ly}, adv. -- {Ve"ni*al*ness},
n. --Bp. Hall.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
venial
adj 1: (theology) warranting only temporal punishment; "venial sin"
[syn: {minor}]
2: easily excused or forgiven; "a venial error" [syn: {excusable},
{forgivable}]
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