v.
- inflict a penalty on as retribution for an offence.
▸inflict a penalty on someone for (an offence).
▸informal capitalize on (an opponent's mistake).
- treat harshly or severely.
Derivative
- punishable adj.
- punisher n.
- punishing adj.
- punishingly adv.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. puniss-, lengthened stem of punir ‘punish’, from L. punire, from poena ‘penalty’.