Ve"ni*al (?), a. [OF. venial, F.
véniel, 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.