punish
punish definition
pun·ish (pun′is̸h)
transitive verb
- to cause to undergo pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or wrongdoing
- to impose a penalty on a wrongdoer for (an offense)
- to treat harshly or injuriously the punishing rays of the sun
- Informal to consume or use up
Etymology: ME punischen < extended stem of OFr punir < L punire, to punish < poena, punishment, penalty: see penal
intransitive verb
to deal out punishment
Related Forms:
- punisher pun′·isher noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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