venal, venial

venal, venial
These words look alike and sound somewhat alike, but venal (VEE-nuhl, VEE-n'l) has a connotation of corruption. Venial (VEE-ni-uhl), a term of mild reproach, means "excusable," "pardonable." It may help to keep them straight by remembering that venal comes from a Latin term meaning "for sale" (venalis) and venial from Latin venia ("forgiveness"). Associate venal with penal and venial with genial."This corrupt administration has entered into many venal agreements." "Not sending them a wedding present was my venial offense against good manners."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • venal / venial —    Venal means corruptible, money grubbing, likely to accept bribes : Chris Cross is a man so venal he charged his mother for taking her to the hospital.    Venial means easily forgiven : The judge dismissed the venial crimes and focused on the… …   Confused words

  • venal / venial —    Venal means corruptible, money grubbing, likely to accept bribes : Chris Cross is a man so venal he charged his mother for taking her to the hospital.    Venial means easily forgiven : The judge dismissed the venial crimes and focused on the… …   Confused words

  • venal, venial —    Venial, from the Latin venialis ( forgivable ), means excusable; a venial sin is a minor one. Venal means corruptible. It comes from the Latin venalis ( for sale ) and describes someone who is capable of being bought …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • venal, venial —    Venial, from the Latin venialis ( forgivable ), means excusable; a venial sin is a minor one. Venal means corruptible. It comes from the Latin venalis ( for sale ) and describes someone who is capable of being bought …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • venial — venal, venial These two unrelated words are sometimes confused, chiefly because they are close in form but perhaps also because their meanings both have to do with forms of transgression. Venal means ‘able to be bribed, corrupt’ (from Latin venum …   Modern English usage

  • venal — venal, venial These two unrelated words are sometimes confused, chiefly because they are close in form but perhaps also because their meanings both have to do with forms of transgression. Venal means ‘able to be bribed, corrupt’ (from Latin venum …   Modern English usage

  • venial — See venal, venial …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • venal — See venal, venial …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • venal —  , venial  Venial, from the Latin venialis ( forgivable ), means excusable; a venial sin is a minor one. Venal means corruptible. It comes from the Latin venalis ( for sale ) and describes someone who is capable of being bought …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • venial — [ vi:nɪəl] adjective Christian Theology denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Often contrasted with mortal. ↘(of a fault or offence) slight and pardonable. Derivatives veniality alɪti noun venially adverb… …   English new terms dictionary

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