Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PE'NAL, a. [Fr. and Sp. id.; It. penale; from L. pœna, Gr. ποινη, pain, punishment. See Pain.]

1. Enacting punishment; denouncing the punishment of offenses; as, a penal law or statute; the penal code. Penal statutes must be construed strictly. – Blackstone.
2. Inflicting punishment. Adamantine chains and penal fire. – Milton.
3. Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penal act or offense.