PE'NAL, a. [L. poena; Gr. pain, punishment. See Pain.]
1. Enacting punishment; denouncing the punishment of offenses; as a penal law or statute; the penal code. Penal statutes must be construed strictly.
2. Inflicting punishment.
Adamantine chains and penal fire.
3. Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as a penal act of offense.
