Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Punish \Pun"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Punished}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Punishing}.] [OE. punischen, F. punir, from L. punire,
   punitum, akin to poena punishment, penalty. See {Pain}, and
   {-ish}.]
   1. To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or
      suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a
      view to the offender's amendment; to cause to suffer in
      retribution; to chasten; as, to punish traitors with
      death; a father punishes his child for willful
      disobedience.

            A greater power Now ruled him, punished in the shape
            he sinned.                            --Milton.

   2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender;
      to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss; as,
      to punish murder or treason with death.

   3. To injure, as by beating; to pommel. [Low]

   Syn: To chastise; castigate; scourge; whip; lash; correct;
        discipline. See {Chasten}.

Source : WordNet®

punishing
     adj 1: resulting in punishment; "the king imposed a punishing tax"
     2: characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion;
        especially physical effort; "worked their arduous way up
        the mining valley"; "a grueling campaign"; "hard labor";
        "heavy work"; "heavy going"; "spent many laborious hours
        on the project"; "set a punishing pace" [syn: {arduous}, {backbreaking},
         {grueling}, {gruelling}, {hard}, {heavy}, {laborious}, {toilsome}]