punishment — pun·ish·ment n 1: the act of punishing 2: a penalty (as a fine or imprisonment) inflicted on an offender through the judicial and esp. criminal process see also cruel and unusual punishment Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster … Law dictionary
punishment — Punishment is the infliction of something bad (frequently, but not necessarily, pain or a loss of freedom) on a wrongdoer because of a wrong committed. Philosophical debate centres on the question of how, if at all, punishment can be justified … Christian Philosophy
punishment — late 13c., from Anglo Fr. punisement (13c.), O.Fr. punissement, from punir (see PUNISH (Cf. punish)). Meaning “rough handling” is from 1811 … Etymology dictionary
punishment — [n] penalty abuse, amercement, beating, castigation, chastening, chastisement, comeuppance, confiscation, correction, deprivation, disciplinary action, discipline, forfeit, forfeiture, gallows, hard work, infliction, just desserts*, lumps,… … New thesaurus
punishment — ► NOUN 1) the action of punishing or the state of being punished. 2) the penalty imposed for an offence. 3) informal harsh or rough treatment … English terms dictionary
punishment — [pun′ish mənt] n. 1. a punishing or being punished 2. a penalty imposed on an offender for a crime or wrongdoing 3. harsh or injurious treatment … English World dictionary
Punishment — The old village stocks in Chapeltown, Lancashire, England For other uses, see Punishment (disambiguation). Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong… … Wikipedia
PUNISHMENT — While there is no modern theory of punishment that cannot, in some form or other, be traced back to biblical concepts, the original and foremost purpose of punishment in biblical law was the appeasement of God. God abhors the criminal ways of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
punishment — /pun ish meuhnt/, n. 1. the act of punishing. 2. the fact of being punished, as for an offense or fault. 3. a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc. 4. severe handling or treatment. [1250 1300; ME punysshement < AF punisement, OF… … Universalium
punishment — n. 1) to administer, mete out punishment to 2) to impose, inflict punishment on 3) to escape; suffer, take punishment 4) cruel, cruel and unusual; harsh, severe; just; light, mild punishment 5) capital; corporal; summary punishment 6) (mil.)… … Combinatory dictionary
