Ve·ni·al a.
1. Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable; as, a venial fault or transgression.
So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip. --Shak.
2. 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.
-- Ve*ni*al*ly, adv. -- Ve*ni*al*ness, n.
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