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Definition of penal - 4 dictionary results
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pe⋅nal

  [peen-l]
Use penal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.
2. prescribing punishment: penal laws.
3. constituting punishment: He survived the years of penal hardship.
4. used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony.
5. subject to or incurring punishment: a penal offense.
6. payable or forfeitable as a penalty: a penal sum.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L poenālis, equiv. to poen(a) penalty (< Gk poin fine) + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
pe⋅nal⋅i⋅ty  [pi-nal-i-tee] , noun
pe⋅nal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pe·nal   (pē'nəl)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or prescribing punishment, as for breaking the law.

  2. Subject to punishment; legally punishable: a penal offense.

  3. Serving as or constituting a means or place of punishment: penal servitude; a penal colony.


[Middle English, from Old French peinal and from Medieval Latin pēnālis, both from Latin poenālis, from poena, penalty, from Greek poinē; see kwei-1 in Indo-European roots.]
pe'nal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

penal 
"pertaining to punishment," 1439, from O.Fr. peinal (12c.), from M.L. penalis, from L. poenalis "pertaining to punishment," from poena "punishment," from Gk. poine "blood-money, fine, penalty, punishment," from PIE *kwoina, from base *kwei- "to pay, atone, compensate" (cf. Gk. time "price, worth, honor, esteem, respect," Skt. cinoti "observes, notes," Avestan kaena "punishment, vengeance," O.C.S. cena "honor, price," Lith. kaina "value, price"). Penalty is first attested 1512, from M.Fr. penalité, from M.L. poenalitatem (nom. poenalitas), from L. poenalis. The sporting sense is first recorded 1885. Penalize formed in Eng. 1868.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pe·nal
Pronunciation: 'pEn-&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or being punishment <penal sanctions>
2 : making one (as an offender) punishable penal offense>; also : CRIMINAL 2
3 : used as a place of confinement and punishment penal institution>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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