original sin
Preserved but no longer current.
That corruption which is born with us, and is the inheritance of all the off- spring of Adam, Theology teaches that as Adam was founder of his race, when Adam fell the taint and penalty of his disobedience passed to all his posterity.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “original sin” mean?
That corruption which is born with us, and is the inheritance of all the off- spring of Adam, Theology teaches that as Adam was founder of his race, when Adam fell the taint and penalty of his disobedience passed to all his posterity.
Is “original sin” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.