Venereal vs Venal - What's the difference?
venereal | venal |
sexually transmitted.
of or relating to sexual intercourse, lust, or the genitals.
* Milton
Exciting sexual desire; aphrodisiac.
Adapted to the cure of venereal diseases.
(obsolete) of or relating to copper (formerly called Venus by alchemists).
(archaic) For sale; available for purchase.
Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
* 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 140:
Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
Corrupt, mercenary.
* 1785 , The Times , 9 Feb 1785, page 1, column C:
As adjectives the difference between venereal and venal
is that venereal is sexually transmitted while venal is available for a price; venal.venereal
English
Adjective
(-)- Into the snare I fell / Of fair, fallacious looks, venereal trains, / Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life.
- a venereal medicine
Derived terms
* dermatovenereal * venereal disease * venereally * venerologyReferences
* * *Anagrams
*venal
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl)Etymology 2
From (etyl) , compare vendAdjective
(en adjective)- 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.
- 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.