释义 |
pe·nal I. \ˈpēnəl\ adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin poenalis, from poena penalty, punishment + -alis -al — more at pain 1. : designed to impose punishment : prescribing, enacting, or threatening punishment : punitive < the penal clause > 2. : liable or subject to punishment or a penalty : incurring punishment < a penal offense > 3. : inflicted as or constituting punishment or penalty or used as a means of punishment < marks for any infraction of the rules … were worked off in penal study — A.W.Long > 4. a. : forfeitable or payable as a penalty b. : involving or imposing a pecuniary penalty — see penal sum 5. : of or relating to punishment, penalty, penal laws, or penal servitude < penal reform > 6. : used as a place of confinement and punishment < a penal colony > < a penal farm > 7. : inflicting a penalty : severely disadvantageous < terms decidedly penal to those who … put their money into steel — Economist > II. adjective Etymology: penis + -al : penial |