 | WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Penal
Pronunciation : Pe"nal
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F. p?nal. See Pain.]
Definition : Defn: Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as: (a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue; the penal code. (b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penalact of offense. (c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment; as, a penal colony or settlement. "Adamantine chains and penal fire." Milton. Penal code (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment. -- Penal laws, Penal statutes (Law), laws prohibited certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them. -- Penal servitude, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison, in lieu of transportation. [Great Brit.] -- Penal suit, Penal action (Law), a suit for penalties.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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