penality

- 3 dictionary results

pe⋅nal

[peen-l]

–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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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.

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>

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