punish
Pronunciation: /ˈpʌnɪʃ/
verb
- inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offence, especially a transgression of a legal or moral code: I have done wrong and I’m being punished for it
- inflict a penalty or sanction on someone for (such an offence): fraudulent acts would be punished by up to two years in prison
- informal capitalize on (an opponent’s mistake), especially in sport: Australia punished Ireland’s handling blunders and scored three tries
- treat (someone) in an unfairly harsh way: a rise in prescription charges would punish the poor
- subject to severe and debilitating treatment.
Origin:
Middle English: from Old French puniss-, lengthened stem of punir 'punish', from Latin punire, from poena 'penalty'