n. [ L. punitio: cf. F. punition. See Punish. ] Punishment. [ R. ] Mir. for Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of or pertaining to punishment; involving, awarding, or inflicting punishment;
If death be punitive, so, likewise, is the necessity imposed upon man of toiling for his subsistence. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]
We shall dread a blow from the punitive hand. Bagehot. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Punishing; tending to punishment; punitive. [ 1913 Webster ]
God . . . may make moral evil, as well as natural, at the same time both prudential and punitory. A. Tucker. [ 1913 Webster ]