The DICT Development Group
3 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
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 penal
act or 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 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.
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
adj 1: of or relating to punishment; "penal reform"; "penal
2: serving as or designed to impose punishment; "penal
3: subject to punishment by law; "a penal offense" [syn:
From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :
PENAL. That which may be punished; that which inflicts a punishment.
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