punish English · revision 15185

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la poena}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpʌn.ɪʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|punishen]], [[bor|fro|puniss-]], the extended stem of [[m|fro|punir|t=to punish]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|pūniō|t=to inflict a penalty on]], earlier [[m|la|poeniō]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|poena|t=penalty, punishment]] (see [[pain]] and [[penal]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To inflict divine retribution on: about 1303, as ponysshen, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) To make an offender suffer for a fault is from 1340, in the Ayenbite of Inwyt.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To visit an offence with a penalty is also from 1340,^(OED 1989) and to punish, used absolutely, from about 1380.^(OED 1989) The colloquial sense, to handle roughly or inflict heavy damage, began in boxing.^(Etymonline) Collins records an informal sense, to consume a lot of something.^(Collins 2023) Punishment is from 1385, in Usk's Testament of Love,^(Barnhart 1988) and punitive from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1303 – to inflict divine retribution.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – to punish an offender.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – to inflict punishment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1385 – punishment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make someone undergo a [[penalty]] for an offence, sin or fault.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To inflict a penalty for an offence.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To handle roughly; to treat harshly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To consume a lot of something: ''to punish the bottle''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[punishability]]

+ * [[punishable]]

+ * [[punisher]]

+ * [[overpunish]]

+ * [[prepunish]]

+ * [[repunish]]

+ * [[punishing]]

+ * [[punishment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pain]]

+ * [[penal]]

+ * [[penalty]]

+ * [[punitive]]

+ * [[penance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}