v. t. | 1. | To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a view to the offender's amendment; to cause to suffer in retribution; to chasten; as, to punish traitors with death; a father punishes his child for willful disobedience. |
| 2. | To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender; to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss; as, to punish murder or treason with death. |
| 3. | To injure, as by beating; to pommel. |
| 4. | To deal with roughly or harshly; - chiefly used with regard to a contest; as, our troops punished the enemy. |