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Venal

//ˈviːnəl// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Venous; pertaining to veins. archaic, rare
  2. 2
    For sale; available for purchase. archaic

    "Because lips libertine and and venal had murmured such words to him, he believed but little in the candour of hers; […]."

  3. 3
    Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.

    "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."

  4. 4
    Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.
  5. 5
    Corrupt, mercenary.

    "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."

Adjective
  1. 1
    capable of being corrupted wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin vēna (“vein”) + -al.

Etymology 2

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

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