venial
Pronunciation: /ˈviːnɪəl/
adjective
Christian Theology- denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace: we cannot prevent ourselves sometimes from dreaming of performing venial if not mortal sins everything I’ve disclosed up to now can be seen as venialOften contrasted with mortal
- (of a fault or offence) slight and pardonable.
Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from late Latin venialis, from venia 'forgiveness'
Venal and venial are sometimes confused. Venal means ‘susceptible to bribery, corrupt’, as in local customs officers are notoriously venal, whereas venial is used to refer to a sin or offence that is excusable or pardonable, as opposed to a mortal sin.