Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - punish

 verb  Etymology: Middle English punisshen, from Anglo-French puniss-, stem of punir, from Latin punire, from poena penalty — more at pain  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to impose a penalty on for a fault, offense, or violation  b. to inflict a penalty for the commission of (an offense) in retribution or retaliation  2.  a. to deal with roughly or harshly  b. to inflict injury on ; hurt  intransitive verb to inflict ~ment  • ~ability noun  • ~able adjective  • ~er noun Synonyms:  ~, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing. ~ implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing ~ed for stealing. chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal ~ment or to verbal censure or denunciation chastised his son for neglecting his studies. castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure an editorial castigating the entire city council. chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued chastened by a landslide election defeat. discipline implies a ~ing or chastening in order to bring under control parents must discipline their children. correct implies ~ing aimed at reforming an offender the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer.