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Webster 1913 Edition
Penal
Pe′nal
,Adj.
Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence
: as: (a)
Enacting or threatening punishment;
as, a
. penal
statue; the penal
code(b)
Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty;
as, a
. penal
act or offense(c)
Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
“Adamantine chains and penal fire.” as, a
. penal
colony or settlementMilton.
Penal code
(Law)
, a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment.
– Penal laws
,
Penal statutes
(Law)
, laws prohibiting certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them.
– Penal servitude
, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison, in lieu of transportation.
[Great Brit.]
– Penal suit
,
Penal action
(Law)
, a suit for penalties.
Webster 1828 Edition
Penal
PE'NAL
,Adj.
1.
Enacting punishment; denouncing the punishment of offenses; as a penal law or statute; the penal code. Penal statutes must be construed strictly.2.
Inflicting punishment. Adamantine chains and penal fire.
3.
Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as a penal act of offense.Definition 2025
penal
penal
See also: pénal
English
Alternative forms
- pænal (archaic, hypercorrect)
- pænall (obsolete, hypercorrect)
- penall (obsolete)
- pœnal (archaic)
- pœnall (obsolete)
Adjective
penal (not comparable)
- Of or relating to punishment.
- penal servitude
- Subject to punishment; punishable.
- a penal offence
- Serving as a place of punishment.
- a penal colony
Related terms
Translations
Anagrams
Catalan
Etymology
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -al
Adjective
penal m, f (masculine and feminine plural penals)