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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.

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