Penal Definition
pēnəl
adjective
Specifying or prescribing punishment.
A penal code.
Webster's New World
Of, for, or constituting punishment, esp. legal punishment.
Webster's New World
Making a person liable to punishment.
A penal offense.
Webster's New World
Origin of Penal
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Middle English from Old French peinal and from Medieval Latin pēnālis both from Latin poenālis from poena penalty from Greek poinē kwei-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Old French peinal, from Medieval Latin penalis, from Latin poenalis, from poena (“punishment"), from Ancient Greek ποινή (poinÄ“, “punishment"), from Proto-Indo-European *kÊ·oynehâ‚‚.
From Wiktionary
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