Sin eater

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.
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            Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
                                                  --John viii.
                                                  34.
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            Sin is the transgression of the law.  --1 John iii.
                                                  4.
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            I think 't no sin.
            To cozen him that would unjustly win. --Shak.
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            Enthralled
            By sin to foul, exorbitant desires.   --Milton.
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   2. An offense, in general; a violation of propriety; a
      misdemeanor; as, a sin against good manners.
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            I grant that poetry's a crying sin.   --Pope.
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   3. A sin offering; a sacrifice for sin.
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            He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.
                                                  --2 Cor. v.
                                                  21.
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   4. An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person. [R.]
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            Thy ambition,
            Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land
            Of noble Buckingham.                  --Shak.
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   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.
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   {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.
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   Syn: Iniquity; wickedness; wrong. See {Crime}.
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