'Venial' definitions:
Definition of 'venial'
From: WordNet
adjective
Warranting only temporal punishment; "venial sin" [syn: minor, venial]
adjective
Easily excused or forgiven; "a venial error" [syn: excusable, forgivable, venial]
Definition of 'Venial'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [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]
Synonyms of 'venial'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- admissible,
- allowable,
- condonable,
- defensible,
- dispensable,
- excusable,
- exemptible,
- expiable,
- forgivable,
- harmless,
- inoffensive,
- insignificant,
- justifiable,
- legitimate,
- minor,
- pardonable,
- petty,
- reasonable,
- remissible,
- tolerable,
- tolerated,
- trifling,
- trivial,
- unimportant,
- unobjectionable,
- vindicable,
- warrantable