penal

views updated Jun 27 2018

pe·nal / ˈpēnəl/ • adj. of, relating to, or prescribing the punishment of offenders under the legal system: the campaign for penal reform. ∎  used or designated as a place of punishment: a former penal colony. ∎  (of an act or offense) punishable by law.DERIVATIVES: pe·nal·ly adv.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

penal

views updated Jun 11 2018

penal XV. — (O)F. pénal or L. pœnālis, f. pœna PAIN; see -AL1.
Hence penalize XIX. So penalty (-TY2) punishment imposed. XVI. — leg. AN. *penalte, for F. pénalité — medL. pœnālitās.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Penal

views updated Jun 27 2018

PENAL

Punishable; inflicting a punishment.

West's Encyclopedia of American Law

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