Penalties

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Penalty \Pe"nal*ty\, n.; pl. {Penalties}. [F. p['e]nalit['e].
     See {Penal}.]
     1. Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the
        suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or
        judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense,
        or trespass.


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              Death is the penalty imposed.         --Milton.
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     2. The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a
        person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case
        of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine.
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              The penalty and forfeit of my bond.   --Shak.
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     3. A handicap. [Sporting Cant]
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     Note: The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a
           pecuniary punishment.
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     {Bill of pains and penalties}. See under {Bill}.
  
     {On penalty of}, or {Under penalty of}, on pain of; with
        exposure to the penalty of, in case of transgression.
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