veniality

Variant of venial

venial definition

ve·nial (vēn′yəl, vē′nē əl)

adjective

  1. that may be forgiven; pardonable
  2. that may be excused or overlooked; excusable: said as of an error or fault
  3. Theol. not causing spiritual death: said of sin either not serious in itself or, if serious, not adequately recognized as such or not committed with full consent of one's will

Etymology: OFr < LL(Ec) venialis, pardonable, orig., gracious < L venia, a grace, favor, akin to venus, love: see Venus

Related Forms:

  • veniality ve′·ni·al′·ity (vē′nē al′ə tē) noun
  • venially ve′·ni·ally adverb

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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