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sin1

Pronunciation: /sɪn/
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Definition of sin

noun

  • an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law:a sin in the eyes of God [mass noun]:the human capacity for sin
  • an act regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offence, or omission:he committed the unforgivable sin of refusing to give interviews

verb (sins, sinning, sinned)

[no object]
  • commit a sin:I sinned and brought shame down on us
  • (sin against) offend against (God, a person, or a principle):Lord, we have sinned against you

Phrases

(as) —— as sin

informal having a particular undesirable quality to a high degree:as ugly as sin miserable as sin

for one's sins

humorous, chiefly British used to suggest that a task or duty is so onerous or unpleasant that it must be a punishment: he teaches Latin for his sins

like sin

informal vehemently or forcefully:you can lie like sin to a keyboard

live in sin

informal, dated live together as though married.

sin of commission

a sinful action.

sin of omission

a sinful failure to perform an action: sins of omission more usually cause such problems

Origin:

Old English synn (noun), syngian (verb); probably related to Latin sons, sont- 'guilty'

sin in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sin in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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