Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “venial” come from?

Venial comes from Old French venial, from Late Latin venialis, from Latin venia meaning "forgiveness," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wenh₁- meaning "to desire or strive."

venial (English): Pardonable; able to be forgiven; Excusable;...

Definitions

  1. Pardonable; able to be forgiven; Excusable;...

Ancestry of “venial”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchvenialvenial
2Late Latinvenialispardonable
3Latinveniaindulgence, kindness; mercy, grace, favour;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwn̥h₁yeh₂—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwenh₁-to love

Words derived from “venial”

  • venially
  • veniality
  • venialness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wenh₁- →