|
| pun·ish [ púnnish ] (past and past participle pun·ished, present participle pun·ish·ing, 3rd person present singular pun·ish·es) |
verb |
|
| Definition: |
| |
1. transitive and intransitive verb make somebody undergo penalty: to subject somebody to a penalty for wrongdoing
|
2. transitive verb impose penalty on crime: to respond to a crime or other wrong act by imposing a penalty
(
often passive
)
  crimes formerly punished by death
|
3. transitive verb treat somebody or something roughly: to treat somebody or something harshly, causing damage or pain
punished the champ with some powerful body blows
|
4. transitive verb treat somebody unfairly: to treat somebody unfairly or discriminate against somebody
|
| [14th century. < Old French puniss-, stem of punir< Latin punire< poena "penalty"] |
|
| pun·ish·a·ble adjective |
| pun·ish·er noun |
|
