VENIAL

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. 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. 2. Allowed; permitted. “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.