poen-, peno-, poino-, poin-, puni-, pain-, penal-, pent-

(Greek > Latin: pain, punishment, penalty)

counterpunch (s) (noun), counterpunches (pl)
1. An attack or a blow made by a boxer in response to an opponent's hitting him: During their fight the two boys gave each other counterpunches until one fell backwards and couldn't get up again.
2. Etymology: meaning of "to hit with the fist" was first recorded 1520's, probably influenced by punish; the noun sense of "a blow with the fist" is recorded by 1570's; from Middle English punchen, "to thrust, prod; from Old French poinçonner, ponchonner, "to emboss with a punch; from poinçon, ponchon, "pointed tool"; from Latin punire, "to inflict a penalty on, to cause pain for some offense"; from earlier poenire, from poena, "penalty, punishment".
impunity (s) (noun), impunties (pl)
1. An exemption from punishment, harm, or recrimination; as a result of one's actions or words: In some countries, impunity seems to give some people the license to commit grave crimes.
2. Freedom from any risk of retribution for doing something wrong or bad: Impunity applies to someone who is given the right to say or do something that others would not have privilege to do.
3. Etymology: from the 1530's which came from Latin impunitatem, impunitas, "freedom from punishment, omission of punishment"; from impunis, "unpunished, without punishment"; from in-, "not" + poena, "punishment".

The root word punity, has the same origin as "punished". When the negative im-, "not" is added, then impunity has the meaning of "not being punished" for what someone says or does.

Freedom from punishment for breaking the rules.
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Nemo debet bis puniri pro uno delicto.
No one ought to be punished twice for one offense.

No one shall be placed in peril (jeopardy) of legal penalties more than once upon the same accusation.

Double jeopardy is forbidden in the United States constitution and protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal or conviction and against multiple punishments for the same offense.

pain
1. The acutely unpleasant physical discomfort experienced by someone who is violently struck, injured, or ill.
2. A sensation of pain in a particular part of the body: "The child was complaining of pains in the lower abdomen."
3. Severe emotional or mental distress: "He suffered a pain of rejection."
4. Someone, or something, that is extremely annoying or causes many problems: "Her constant complaining was a real pain."
painful
painfully
painless
painlessly
painlessness
painstaking (adjective), more painstaking, most painstaking
1. Relating to something which is done in a very careful, precise, or conscientious way: After years of painstaking research, a cure was found by the medics for Tim's physical suffering.
2. Concerning something which shows diligent and meticulous work and effort: Gertrud's local newspaper presented the illegal processes with painstaking care about how some criminals were taking advantage of people by pretending to be relatives who were in great financial need.
A reference to being very careful.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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penal
penalization
penalize (verb), penalizes; penalized; penalizing
1. To impose or to administer a punishment on someone: Greg was driving extremely fast in front of the school and the cop penalized him with a very expensive ticket for doing it!
2. To put at an unfavorable disadvantage: The present health care program needs to be revised because it penalizes divorced women with children!
penally
penalty

Cross references related to "pain, hurt; suffering, injury" word families: -agra; algesi-; algo-; angina-; dolor-; Masochism; noci-; odyno-; pono- (toil, work; pain); Sadism.