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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Venial(l, Vaneall, adj. Also: wenial(l, venyall, veniale, vanial(l, waneall. [ME and e.m.E. venial(e (both Cursor M.), veniele (c1340), venyale (c1400), OF venial, veniel, L. veniālis.] Of sin: Not entailing spiritual damnation, not heinous; pardonable, freq. in contradistinction to dedely (Ded(e)ly adj. 2) or mortal (Mortal(l adj. 6 b), qq.v. for further examples.(a) c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 198.
The ded, pacyently tholyt, makis satisfaccioune nocht al-anerly of the vaneall synys, bot als … for mony dedly synis c1460 Vert. Mess 43.
Sancte Matho sais that the tyme that a persone heris mes, thai sall fal in na dedly syne, and all waneall synnis sal be forgewyne thaim throw the wertew of the mes a1550 Lang Rosair 294.
Vaniall 1551 Hamilton Cat. 288.
Smale or vanial synnis(b) 1456 Hay I 16/20.
The vij dedely synnis, and … the veniall synnis c1490 Irland Asl. MS 19/28.
The confessour suld haue sciens and discrecoun to discerne betuix veniale & dedly syn 1490 Irland Mir. I 48/34.
For nouthire in Jhesu nor in His blist modere was ony maner or kind of syn mortale, veniale, or originale 1490 Irland Mir. III 41/5.
The secund froit is remissioun of venial synnis … this sacrament … puttis away the venial synnys 1490 Irland Mir. III 74/31, 75/4, 8.
The secund thing that puttis impediment that the saule ascend nocht incontinent in the ardent luf of God is veniall syn for all maner of syn baith deidly and veniall puttis sum impediment … mortale syn seueris the saule haly fra the grace of God … bot the venial syn … waikis … and makis the luf … of the saule les anens God … and tharfor the saule quhen it partis fra the body misteris that it be purgit and clengit fra all weniall syn that it may incontinent ascend in the ardent luf of the Diuinite 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 43.
Schawis he [sc. Virgil] nocht wikkit folk in endles pane, And purgatory for synnys venyall a1538 Abell 103a.
It is bot wenial sin 1551 Hamilton Cat. 284.
Mone neidis follow that certane venial synnis … may be forgevin in the warld to cum, for the quhilk in this warld man hes nocht maid sufficient satisfactioun 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 26/4.
A moate in ane others eye is a beame into youris … and a ueniall sinne (as the Papists callis it) in ane other is a greate cryme into you 1653 Butler Leighton 304.
It was the more venial extreme, if any were venial, and better than any love of the world … one grain of the world's love was … worse than a hundred grains of untimeous desires after heaven ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 50.
That the distinctione of sinne, in mortall and veniall, was lauful and justifiable