Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Penal"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Penal \Pe"nal\, a. [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F.
p['e]nal. See {Pain}.]
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
penalact of offense.
(c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
as, a penal colony or settlement. ``Adamantine chains and
penal fire.'' --Milton.
{Penal code} (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and
offenses and their punishment.
{Penal laws}, {Penal statutes} (Law), laws prohibited 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
penal
adj 1: of or relating to punishment; "penal reform"; "penal code"
2: serving as or designed to impose punishment; "penal
servitude"; "a penal colony"
3: subject to punishment by law; "a penal offense" [syn: {punishable}]
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