Penal Definition

pēnəl
adjective
Specifying or prescribing punishment.
A penal code.
Webster's New World
Of, for, or constituting punishment, esp. legal punishment.
Webster's New World
Making a person liable to punishment.
A penal offense.
Webster's New World

Origin of Penal

  • Middle English from Old French peinal and from Medieval Latin pēnālis both from Latin poenālis from poena penalty from Greek poinē kwei-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Old French peinal, from Medieval Latin penalis, from Latin poenalis, from poena (“punishment"), from Ancient Greek ποινή (poinÄ“, “punishment"), from Proto-Indo-European *kÊ·oynehâ‚‚.

    From Wiktionary

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