venal









venal


adjective

  1. willing to sell one’s influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary: a venal judge.
  2. able to be purchased, as by a bribe: venal acquittals.
  3. associated with or characterized by bribery: a venal administration; venal agreements.

adjective

  1. easily bribed or corrupted; mercenarya venal magistrate
  2. characterized by corruptiona venal civilization
  3. open to purchase, esp by briberya venal contract
adj.

1650s, “offered for sale, capable of being obtained for a price,” from French vénal, from Latin venalis “that is for sale,” from venum (nominative *venus) “for sale,” from PIE root *wes- “to buy, sell” (cf. Sanskrit vasnah “purchase money,” vasnam “reward,” vasnayati “he bargains, haggles;” Greek onos “price paid, purchase,” oneisthai “to buy”).

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