veniality

English

Etymology

venial + -ity

Noun

veniality (countable and uncountable, plural venialities)

  1. (uncountable) The quality of being venial (pardonable).
    • 1903, Carter Goodloe, Calvert of Strathore:
      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:
      However enraged I might be at the new revelation of Addicks' extraordinary veniality, the other elements in the situation remained as before.
  2. (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

Translations

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