penal action — n: an action by the state or a private party that is for the purpose of imposing a statutorily prescribed penalty on one who violates a law and that is punitive rather than remedial in nature; also: a criminal prosecution Merriam Webster’s… … Law dictionary
penal action — noun or penal suit : an action under a penal statute … Useful english dictionary
penal action — An action founded entirely upon a statute which subjects a wrongdoer to a liability in favor of a person wronged as a punishment for the wrongful act, without limiting such liability to the actual damages suffered. 1 Am J2d Actions § 42. In a… … Ballentine's law dictionary
penal action — criminal act, criminal offense … English contemporary dictionary
penal — pe·nal / pēn əl/ adj 1: of, relating to, or being punishment penal sanctions 2: making one (as an offender) punishable a penal offense; also: criminal (2) 3: used as a place of con … Law dictionary
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Penal code — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Penal laws — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Penal servitude — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Penal statutes — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
