Etymologically
Log in

venia

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 05:05. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwɛ.ni.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛː.ni.a][1]

Forms

venia f (genitive veniae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *wen(i)jā-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁-ih₂- (“desire”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to desire, love”).[2][1] Cognate with Old Irish fine (“family, kindred”), Old High German wini (“friend”), Old High German wunna (“joy”) and Old English wynn (“joy”).[2] It is related to Venus and veneror “to revere”.[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose prologue says the pious find favour with the gods sooner than the wicked.[2][3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In religious language it meant a favour or kindness, and a favour of permission, leave, as Terence's dā veniam “grant this”.[3] It came to mean indulgence for shortcomings, an excuse, and in the phrase bonā veniā “with your kind leave”, as Cicero's bonā tuā veniā dīxerim.[3][5] Above all it meant forgiveness, pardon, as Cicero's man who asks pardon for his offence, and also relief, respite.[3]

In Medieval Latin it meant a prostration or genuflection, leave, relief, and a rank of honour.[6] It survives in Spanish and Italian venia.[1] Late Latin veniālis “pardonable” gave English venial about 1300, first of sins.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the gods' favour and of pardon.[3][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of permission.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses bonā veniā.[3][4]
  • c. 1300 – English venial is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A favour, kindness; permission, leave.[3]
  2. Indulgence; an excuse.[3]
  3. bonā veniā: by your leave.[3]
  4. Forgiveness, pardon.[3]
  5. Relief, respite.[3]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A genuflection.[6]
  • Venus
  • veneror
  • English venial

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com