venalityn.
/viːˈnalᵻti/, /vᵻˈnalᵻti/, U.S. /viˈnælədi/, /vəˈnælədi/ 1. The quality or fact of being for sale. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > fact of being for sale
venality1611
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Venalitie, venalitie, vendiblenesse; a being salable; a letting or setting vnto sale.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Venality, vendiblenesse, a being saleable; a letting or setting to sale.
1820 A. Ranken Hist. France VII. i. ii. 158 They proposed..to abolish altogether the venality of offices, which would have cut off one of the principal sources of finance in the state.
1874 R. St. J. Tyrwhitt Our Sketching Club 168 The intense vulgarity of so much English work comes direct from its venality.
2. The quality of being venal; readiness to give support or favour in return for profit or reward; prostitution of talents or principles for mercenary considerations.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [noun] > bribe > ability to be bribed
an itching palm1607
venalitya1683
shop-conscience1683
bribability1832
a1683 A. Sidney Disc. Govt. (1704) ii. xxv. 183 Such as will rise, must render themselves conformable in all corruption and venality.
1739 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) III. 209 A soul superior to venality and ‘views of interest’.
c1740 Visct. Bolingbroke Idea Patriot King vii. 56 Want is the Consequence of Profusion, Venality of Want, and Dependance of Venality.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. 309 It only proves the opinion generally entertained of Spartan venality.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ix. §3. 622 His pride and venality had made him unpopular with the nation at large.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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