veniality
English
Etymology
Noun
veniality (countable and uncountable, plural venialities)
- (uncountable) The quality of being venial (pardonable).
- 1903, Carter Goodloe, Calvert of Strathore[1]:
- When he heard him in after years accused of shameless veniality, of trickery, lying, duplicity, even murder, he always remembered that impulsive revelation--never repeated--of a warped, unhappy childhood, of a perverted destiny. Mr. Morris came to him later as he stood leaning against the wall behind the chair of Madame de Chastellux. "
- 1905, Thomas W. Lawson, Frenzied Finance[2]:
- However enraged I might be at the new revelation of Addicks' extraordinary veniality, the other elements in the situation remained as before.
- (countable) A venial (pardonable) action or an instance of venial behaviour.
Usage notes
Do not confuse veniality (mildly wrong behavior) with venality (bribability/corruptibility).
Synonyms
- (quality of being venial): venialness
- (an instance of venial behavior): peccadillo
Translations
quality of being venial
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venial action
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