Painful, harsh, severe, esp. in the way of punishment. Now frequently applied to heavy taxation or a similar financial burden.

Involving loss of the head or life. Of an offence, crime, etc.: punishable by death; incurring the death penalty. See also capital murder n. at…

Capable of being purged (in earlier use, chiefly corresponding to purge, v.1 1).

Involving or liable to transportation.

Of an offence or crime: established or regulated by statute or statutory law; legally punishable.

Of an offence: not clergyable (clergyable, adj. 1); not admitting of a plea of benefit of clergy, and therefore not allowing of a more lenient…

Of an offence: not admitting of a plea of benefit of clergy (and therefore disallowing an exemption or more lenient sentence); = unclergyable, adj.…

Of a crime, etc.: Rendering the perpetrator liable to extradition.

That may be sanctioned.

Of an offence, etc.: for which a person can be imprisoned.