Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   penal

   /ˈpiːnl/

   adjective

   • 1. relating to, used for, or prescribing the punishment of offenders under the legal system: "the campaign for penal reform" Similar disciplinarypunitivecorrectivecorrectionalretributive
   • ▪ (of an act or offence) punishable by law. Similar disciplinarypunitivecorrectivecorrectionalretributive
   • ▪ (especially of taxation or interest rates) extremely severe: "avoid borrowing at penal rates of interest" Similar exorbitantextortionateexcessiveoutrageouspreposterousimmoderateunreasonableinordinateiniquitousinflatedsky-highexpensivegross

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French penal, from Latin poenalis, from poena ‘pain, penalty’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. penally adverb

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points