| Venial | a. [ OF. venial, F. véniel, 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. [ 1913 Webster ] So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Allowed; permitted. [ Obs. ] “Permitting him the while venial discourse unblamed.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Venial sin (R. C. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, as do mortal, or deadly, sins. [ 1913 Webster ]
-- Ve"ni*al*ly, adv. -- Ve"ni*al*ness, n. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ] |
