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punish

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌnɪʃ/

The English word “punish” has 4 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To cause (a child, student, or someone else being looked after, or a suspect or criminal) to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action, typically by an authority or a person in authority (for example: a parent, teacher, or police officer).
  2. To treat harshly and unfairly.
  3. To handle or beat severely; to maul.
  4. To consume a large quantity of.

Etymology

From Middle English punischen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French puniss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of punir, from Latin puniō (“to inflict punishment upon”), from poena (“punishment, penalty”); see pain. Displaced Old English wītnian and (mostly, in this sense) wrecan.

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