See also: vénal

English edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈviːnəl/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -iːnəl

Etymology 1 edit

From Latin vēna (vein) +‎ -al.

Adjective edit

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

  1. Venous; pertaining to veins.

Etymology 2 edit

Borrowed from French vénal, from Old French venel, from Latin vēnālis (for sale), from vēnum (something for sale); compare vend.

Adjective edit

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

  1. (archaic) For sale; available for purchase.
    Synonym: purchasable
  2. Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
    • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 140:
      Thus, regimental commands in the army were – as with the judiciary or the financial bureaucracy – venal posts, which were purchased, bequeathed and sold among the nobility.
  3. Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
    Synonym: crooked
    Antonyms: straight, honest, uncorrupt
  4. (of behaviour etc.) Corrupt, mercenary.
    • 1785, The Times, 9 Feb 1785, page 1, column C:
      Though there is a disposition in mankind, to declaim against the corruption and peculation of the present times, as being more venal than formerly; yet, if we look back to different periods, we shall find statesmen and politicians, as selfish and corrupt, [] as those who have lately figured on the political stage.
Usage notes edit

Venal behavior (bribery/corruption) is not to be confused with venial behavior (mildly wrong behavior).

Related terms edit
Translations edit

Anagrams edit

Catalan edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From vena +‎ -al.

Adjective edit

venal m or f (masculine and feminine plural venals)

  1. venal, venous

Etymology 2 edit

Borrowed from Latin vēnālis (for sale), from vēnum (something for sale).

Adjective edit

venal m or f (masculine and feminine plural venals)

  1. for sale, sellable
  2. venal (willing to take bribes)
    Synonym: subornable

Further reading edit

Portuguese edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Latin vēnālis.[1][2]

Pronunciation edit

 

  • Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
  • Hyphenation: ven‧nal

Adjective edit

venal m or f (plural venais, not comparable)

  1. (anatomy) venal, venous (pertaining to veins)
    Synonym: venoso
  2. related to sales, commercial
    Synonym: comercial
  3. (figurative) easily bribable, capable of selling oneself; corrupt
    Synonym: corrupto

Derived terms edit

References edit

Romanian edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French vénal, from Latin venalis.

Adjective edit

venal m or n (feminine singular venală, masculine plural venali, feminine and neuter plural venale)

  1. venal, venous

Declension edit

Spanish edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /beˈnal/ [beˈnal]
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: ve‧nal

Etymology 1 edit

From vena +‎ -al.

Adjective edit

venal m or f (masculine and feminine plural venales)

  1. venous
    Synonym: venoso

Etymology 2 edit

Borrowed from Latin vēnālis (for sale), from vēnum (something for sale).

Adjective edit

venal m or f (masculine and feminine plural venales)

  1. venal, corruptible
  2. for sale, sellable
Derived terms edit

Further reading edit