Ve"ni*al (?), a. [OF. venial, F. v'eniel, L. venialis, from venia forgiveness, pardon, grace, favor, kindness; akin to venerari to venerate. See Venerate.]
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."
Milton.
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.
Bp. Hall.
© Webster 1913.