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What is "under penalty of"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Under penalty of

Penalty \Pe"nal*ty\, n.; pl. Penalties. [F. p['e]nalit['e]. See Penal.]

  1. Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass.

    Death is the penalty imposed.
    --Milton.

  2. The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine.

    The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
    --Shak.

  3. A handicap. [Sporting Cant]

    Note: The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment.

    Bill of pains and penalties. See under Bill.

    On penalty of, or Under penalty of, on pain of; with exposure to the penalty of, in case of transgression.