peccadillo
UK: ˌpekəˈdɪləʊ | US: ˌpekəˈdɪloʊ
n. a relatively minor fault or sin; a small or trifling offense
peccadillo = pecc<sin> + adillo<diminutive suffix>
- pecc (from Latin peccare, meaning "to sin")
- adillo (Spanish diminutive suffix -illo, indicating smallness or triviality)
Etymology Origin:
The word peccadillo originates from Spanish pecadillo, a diminutive form of pecado (meaning "sin"). It entered English in the 16th century, retaining its connotation of a minor or petty transgression. The Latin root peccare underscores the idea of moral failing, while the diminutive suffix softens it to imply insignificance. This reflects how language often borrows and adapts terms to express nuanced shades of meaning.
Forgetting to reply to her text was just a peccadillo, but he still felt guilty.
The manager overlooked the employee’s peccadillo, focusing on his overall performance.
In the grand scheme of things, his tardiness was a mere peccadillo.
She dismissed his criticism as a peccadillo, unworthy of serious attention.
The novel’s protagonist is flawed, but his missteps are mostly peccadillos.