mindmap root((罚没)) penalize usually presupposes a violation of an order, rule, or law intended to maintain discipline or ensure propriety; it also implies a penalty such as forfeiture of money, advantage, or privilege or imposition of handicap: ~ late taxpayers by adding interest to their bills. fine implies a monetary penalty fixed within certain limits by law: the library ~s careless borrowers a few cents a day to encourage prompt return of books. amerce implies a penalty left to the discretion of the judge and may refer to a nonpecuniary penalty: the judge ~d the offender in the sum of fifty dollars. mulct implies subjection to a superior power that can legally or illegally enforces penalties and especially monetary penalties for failure to conform to its discipline or edicts and is likely to stress the helplessness of the victim and the arbitrariness of the penalizing power: a rash of arson designed to ~ the terrorized shopkeepers. edict法令敕令an order or instruction from one in authority