v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Punished p. pr. & vb. n. Punishing. ] [ OE. punischen, F. punir, from L. punire, punitum, akin to poena punishment, penalty. See Pain, and -ish. ] 1. To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a view to the offender's amendment; to cause to suffer in retribution; to chasten; as, to punish traitors with death; a father punishes his child for willful disobedience. [ 1913 Webster ]

A greater power
Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender; to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss; as, to punish murder or treason with death. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To injure, as by beating; to pommel. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To deal with roughly or harshly; -- chiefly used with regard to a contest; as, our troops punished the enemy. [ Colloq. or Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Syn. -- To chastise; castigate; scourge; whip; lash; correct; discipline. See Chasten. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. punissable. ] Deserving of, or liable to, punishment; capable of being punished by law or right; -- said of person or offenses. [ 1913 Webster ]

That time was, when to be a Protestant, to be a Christian, was by law as punishable as to be a traitor. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pun"ish*a*ble*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. One who inflicts punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of punishing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any pain, suffering, or loss inflicted on a person because of a crime or offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

I never gave them condign punishment. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rewards and punishments of another life. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A penalty inflicted by a court of justice on a convicted offender as a just retribution, and incidentally for the purposes of reformation and prevention. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Severe, rough, or disastrous treatment. [ Colloq. or Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]