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Webster 1913 Edition

Punish

Pun′ish

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Punished
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Punishing
.]
[OE.
punischen
, F.
punir
, from L.
punire
,
punitum
, akin to
poena
punishment, penalty. See
Pain
, and
-ish
.]
1.
To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a view to the offender’s amendment; to cause to suffer in retribution; to chasten;
as, to
punish
traitors with death; a father
punishes
his child for willful disobedience.
A greater power
Now ruled him,
punished
in the shape he sinned.
Milton.
2.
To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender; to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss;
as, to
punish
murder or treason with death
.
3.
To injure, as by beating; to pommel.
[Low]
Syn. – To chastise; castigate; scourge; whip; lash; correct; discipline. See
Chasten
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Punish

PUN'ISH

,
Verb.
T.
[L. punio, from the root of poena,pain. The primary sense is to press or strain.]
1.
To pain; to afflict with pain, loss or calamity for a crime or fault; primarily, to afflict with bodily pain, as to punish a thief with pillory or stripes; but the word is applied also to affliction by loss of property, by transportation, banishment, seclusion from society, &c. The laws require murderers to be punished with death. Other offenders are to be punished with fines, imprisonment, hard labor,&c. God punishes men for their sins with calamities personal and national.
2.
To chastise; as, a father punishes his child for disobedience.
3.
To regard with pain or suffering inflicted on the offender; applied to the crime; as, to punish murder or theft.

Definition 2025

punish

punish

English

Verb

punish ‎(third-person singular simple present punishes, present participle punishing, simple past and past participle punished)

  1. To cause to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action.
  2. To cause great harm to (a punishing blow).

Synonyms

  • (to cause to suffer for crime or misconduct): castigate

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • punish in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • punish in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English punischen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French puniss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of punir, from Latin puniō, punīre ‎(“to inflict punishment upon”), from poena ‎(“punishment, penalty”); see pain.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpʌnɪʃ/

Similar Results