a. [ L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F. pénal. See Pain. ] Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as:
Penal code (Law),
Penal laws,
Penal statutes
Penal servitude,
Penal suit,
Penal action
n. [ Cf. LL. poenalitas. See Penalty. ] The quality or state of being penal; liability to punishment. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The act of punishing.
v. t.
adj. Subjected to a penalty. [ Narrower terms:
adv. In a penal manner. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.;
Death is the penalty imposed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bill of pains and penalties.
On penalty of,
Under penalty of
n. [ OF. penance, peneance, L. paenitentia repentance. See Penitence. ]
And bitter penance, with an iron whip. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
Quoth he, “The man hath penance done,
And penance more will do.” Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
a. Free from penance. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]