Definition of "deadly sin" []

• One of the seven sins—anger, covetousness, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, and sloth—that are supposed to be fatal to one's spiritual development and progress. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""You talk like a hasty rattlepate," said he, "For there is no leprosy so foul as deadly sin, seeing that a soul in deadly sin is in the image of the Devil."
• "In both places the Beast-fables are introduced with some art and add variety to the subject-matter, obviating monotony — the deadly sin of such works — and giving repose to the hearer or reader after a climax of excitement such as the murder of the Wazirs."
• ""Besides, envy is the last deadly sin I'd expect from Flash-man bahadur."