sin
UK[sɪn]US[sɪn]
n
An action or way of behaving that is against a religious or moral law.
n
Something that is considered to be wrong or shameful.
Etymology
The English word 'sin' originates from the Old English noun 'synn', meaning 'moral wrongdoing, injury, mischief, enmity, feud'. This term is of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'zonde' and German 'Sünde'. Scholars trace its roots further back to a Proto-Germanic form, likely related to the Latin word 'sons' (guilty), suggesting a deep Indo-European concept of guilt or being truly guilty. The core semantic journey is from a general sense of 'being the one who is' or 'it is true that one is guilty' to the specific theological and moral concept of an offense against divine or moral law.
Analysis
The word 'sin' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a complete, indivisible lexical unit.
Examples
He confessed his sins to the priest.
In some religions, pride is considered a sin.
It's a sin to waste so much food when others are starving.