— penality /pi nal"i tee/ , n. — penally , adv.
/peen"l/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.
2. prescribing punishment: penal laws.
3. constituting punishment: He survived the years of penal hardship.
4. used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony.
5. subject to or incurring punishment: a penal offense.
6. payable or forfeitable as a penalty: a penal sum.
[ 1400-50; late ME poenalis, equiv. to poen ( a ) penalty ( poiné fine) + -alis -AL 1 ]