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pun

Latin

Variants

punpenpain

Related Roots

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About This Root

From Latin pūnīre (to punish) and poena (penalty, pain), from Greek poinḗ. Variants include pen- and pain-. The semantic range spans legal punishment (punish, punitive, penal, penalty), moral reckoning (repent, repentance), and physical suffering (pain, painful). Impunity means escaping without punishment.

Associated Words

death-penalty

The legal punishment of execution

impunity

Freedom from punishment or bad consequences

TOEFLGREC2

nonpunitive

Not intended as punishment

C2

pain

An unpleasant physical or emotional feeling; to cause suffering

NGSL 2kB1

pain-filled

Full of pain or suffering

pain-free

Without any pain

pain-killing

Capable of reducing or eliminating pain

pain-relieving

Having the effect of relieving pain

painful

Causing physical or emotional pain; unpleasant to experience

B1

painfully

In a way that causes pain or distress

B1

painkiller

A medicine taken to reduce or relieve pain

GREC2

painless

Not causing pain; easy and effortless

C2

painlessly

Without causing pain; easily

C2

painstaking

Done with great care and attention to detail; very thorough

IELTSTOEFLGRE

painstakingly

With great care and thoroughness

C2

penal

Relating to legal punishment

TOEFLA1

penalize

To impose a penalty for breaking a rule

GREB2

penalty

A punishment or fine for breaking a rule or law

NGSL 3kIELTSTOEFL

penance

Voluntary self-punishment to show regret; a Christian sacrament of confession

GREA1

penitent

Feeling sincere remorse for wrongdoing; a person who repents

GREC2

penmate

A pen pal; someone one corresponds with in writing

penname

A fictitious name used by a writer; a pseudonym

C2

punish

To impose a penalty on someone for wrongdoing

B1

punishable

Deserving or subject to punishment; 应受惩罚的,可处罚的

B1

punished

Having received punishment for an offense; 受到惩罚的

B1

punisher

One who inflicts punishment; 惩罚者,执法者

B1

punishment

A penalty imposed for wrongdoing; the act of punishing

B1

punitive

Intended as punishment; extremely harsh; 惩罚性的,严厉的

C1

punitively

In a punishing or severely penalizing way; 惩罚性地,严厉地

C2

repent

To feel deep regret for one's sins or wrongdoings

IELTSGREB2

repentance

Deep regret and sorrow for past wrongdoing

B2

repentant

Feeling sincere regret for wrongdoing

B2

subpoena

A legal writ ordering court appearance or evidence production; to issue such a writ

GREC1

unpunished

Not having received punishment

B1

unrepentant

Feeling no regret or remorse for wrongdoing

GREB2