I. To inflict punishment upon, to punish (syn.: castigo, animadverto, plecto, multo).
(α).
In act. form: “peccata punimus,” Cic. Inv. 2, 22, 66: “punire sontes,” id. Off. 1, 24, 82: “Philemonem morte puniit,” Suet. Caes. 74: “alio punito,” id. Calig. 30: “lex omnis aut punit aut jubet, etc.,” Quint. 7, 5, 5; cf. id. 7, 1, 48.—Pass.: “tergo ac capite puniri,” Liv. 3, 55 fin.; Ov. M. 9, 778.—
(β).
In dep. form: “qui punitur aliquem,” Cic. Off. 1, 25, 88: “inimicos puniuntur,” id. Tusc. 1, 44, 107: “hominum necem,” id. Phil. 8, 2, 7: “crudelius poeniri quam erat humanitatis meae postulare,” id. Mil. 13, 33; id. Inv. 2, 27, 80; 2, 28, 83; Quint. 9, 3, 6; Gell. 20, 1, 7: “punita sum funestum praedonem,” App. M. 8, p. 207, 17.—
(γ).
In indeterm. form: “ipse se puniens,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 27, 65: “prohibenda autem maxime est ira in puniendo,” id. Off. 1, 25, 89 fin.—
II. To take vengeance for, to avenge, revenge,= ulcisci (rare): “Graeciae fana punire,” Cic. Rep. 3, 9, 15: “iracundia est cupiditas puniendi doloris,” id. de Or. 1, 51, 220: “meam domum a judicibus puniendam putavit,” Cic. Har. Resp. 8, 16.—Dep.: “ut clarissimorum omnium crudelissimam puniretur necem,” Cic. Phil. 8, 2, 7.