- Sin
- Sin Sin, n. [OE. sinne, AS. synn, syn; akin to D. zonde, OS.
sundia, OHG. sunta, G. s["u]nde, Icel., Dan. & Sw. synd, L.
sons, sontis, guilty, perhaps originally from the p. pr. of
the verb signifying, to be, and meaning, the one who it is.
Cf. {Authentic}, {Sooth}.]
1. Transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the
divine command; any violation of God's will, either in
purpose or conduct; moral deficiency in the character;
iniquity; as, sins of omission and sins of commission.
[1913 Webster]
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. --John viii. 34. [1913 Webster]
Sin is the transgression of the law. --1 John iii. 4. [1913 Webster]
I think 't no sin. To cozen him that would unjustly win. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Enthralled By sin to foul, exorbitant desires. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. An offense, in general; a violation of propriety; a misdemeanor; as, a sin against good manners. [1913 Webster]
I grant that poetry's a crying sin. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
3. A sin offering; a sacrifice for sin. [1913 Webster]
He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. --2 Cor. v. 21. [1913 Webster]
4. An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Thy ambition, Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land Of noble Buckingham. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Note: Sin is used in the formation of some compound words of obvious signification; as, sin-born; sin-bred, sin-oppressed, sin-polluted, and the like. [1913 Webster]
{Actual sin}, {Canonical sins}, {Original sin}, {Venial sin}. See under {Actual}, {Canonical}, etc.
{Deadly sins}, or {Mortal sins} (R. C. Ch.), willful and deliberate transgressions, which take away divine grace; -- in distinction from vental sins. The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth.
{Sin eater}, a man who (according to a former practice in England) for a small gratuity ate a piece of bread laid on the chest of a dead person, whereby he was supposed to have taken the sins of the dead person upon himself.
{Sin offering}, a sacrifice for sin; something offered as an expiation for sin. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Iniquity; wickedness; wrong. See {Crime}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
