释义 |
punitive, a.|ˈpjuːnɪtɪv| [a. F. punitif, -ive (16th c. in Godef.), or ad. med.L. pūnītīv-us (Bonaventura c 1260), f. L. pūnīt-, ppl. stem of pūnīre to punish: see -ive.] Awarding, inflicting, or involving punishment; retributive, punitory. Also, in weakened sense: injurious in such a way as to have a deterrent effect. In early quots. freq. with justice; since 1880, commonly of a military expedition or raid.
1624Bp. Hall Serm. on Is. xxxii. 17, Woe bee to them..that, by the dam of their bribes, labour to stop the due course of punitive Iustice! 1695J. Edwards Perfect. Script. 95 This punitive way of dealing with Achan. 1739J. Trapp Right. over-much (1758) 6 The utmost rigour of punitive justice. 1839Hallam Hist. Lit. IV. iv. iv. §2 ⁋67 The legislative, punitive, and judiciary powers. 1881Times 26 Sept. 5/1 Probably a punitive expedition will be undertaken next winter. 1897Lit. World 22 Oct. 312/1 A British Punitive Expedition captured Benin City. 1959Listener 23 July 154/2 The double, over the bid, continues to be punitive. 1959Spectator 14 Aug. 188/1 Punitive box-office taxation. 1973Black Panther 31 Mar. 4/3 Brother Cleophus has been in punitive segregation (lock-up) since the strike. Ibid. 20 Oct. 6/1 Punitive damages are assessed only when the judge believes that a defendant has acted deliberately and with malice. 1978Lancashire Life Mar. 107/1 A situation could now develop whereby through punitive financial strategies the independent sector could be so reduced that eventually it could be held to be of no social significance. Hence ˈpunitively adv., by way of punishment; ˈpunitiveness, punitive quality.
1865Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. ii. i. (1868) 478 As if Christ were somehow punitively handled in our place. 1727Bailey vol. II, Punitiveness, punishing Nature or Quality. 1908H. R. Mackintosh in Hibbert Jrnl. July 920 A similar inference as to the punitiveness of God. |