Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Penalty
1.
Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass.
Death is the
penalty
imposed. Milton.
2.
The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine.
The
penalty
and forfeit of my bond. Shakespeare
3.
A handicap.
[Sporting Cant]
☞ The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment.
Bill of pains and penalties
. See under
– Bill
. On penalty of
, or Under penalty of
on pain of; with exposure to the penalty of, in case of transgression.
Webster 1828 Edition
Penalty
PEN'ALTY
, n.1.
The suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense or trespass, as a punishment. A fine is a pecuniary penalty. The usual penalties inflicted on the person, are whipping, cropping, branding, imprisonment, hard labor, transportation or death.2.
The suffering to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of non-fulfillment of his stipulations; the forfeiture or sum to be forfeited for non-payment, or for non-compliance with an agreement; as the penalty of a bond.