VENIAL • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Venial

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adjective

Venial adj.

Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable; as, a venial fault or transgression. "So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip."

Allowed; permitted. (Obs.) "Permitting him the while venial discourse unblamed."

Venial sin (R. C. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, as do mortal, or deadly, sins.

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Etymology of 'Venial'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Venial" Quotes from Famous Books

... themselves followed, in two lines. And what was the motto of their banner? "Justitia et Misericordia!" Then followed the culprits, to the number of three hundred, each with his godfather by his side, and his large wax candle lighted in his hand. Those whose offences have been most venial walk first; all are bareheaded, and barefooted. After this portion, who wore only the dress of black and white serge, came those who carried the Sanbenitos; then those who wore the Samarias, with the flames reversed. Here there was a separation in the procession, caused ...

— The Phantom Ship • Captain Frederick Marryat

... the other hand,—the occasional omission of words, whether few or many,—especially that passing from one line to the corresponding place in a subsequent line, which generally results from the proximity of a similar ending,—is a purely venial offence. It is an evidence of carelessness, but ...

— The Causes of the Corruption of the Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels • John Burgon

... did not offend the young man; its immediate effect was that of allaying his agitation. The theatrical touch in her manner made his offense seem more venial than he had thought it a ...

— The Reef • Edith Wharton

... his point of view, in religious knowledge, an implicit challenge to his own preconceived notions, and that, without for a moment intending to be unfair, he responded to this challenge by giving the school a strongly adverse report. Immorality and irreligiousness as such are comparatively venial offences in the eyes of religious orthodoxy. What it cannot tolerate is that men should be moral and religious in any but ...

— What Is and What Might Be - A Study of Education in General and Elementary Education in Particular • Edmond Holmes

... liberty with her, one should hasten to make amends by repentance and confession. Events have been transposed to the extent of some few months in this narrative in order to preserve the continuity and evenness of the story. I hope so small a divergence may seem a venial error after so many centuries. For the rest, it is as accurate as a good deal of research and ...

— Sir Nigel • Arthur Conan Doyle

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