châtiment

punishment

noun shah-tee-MAHN Rare

Usage Note

Châtiment is a formal or literary word for punishment, stronger and more solemn than the everyday punition. It often implies corporal or severe punishment — châtiment corporel ('corporal punishment'). The verb is châtier, and the idiom qui aime bien châtie bien is the French equivalent of 'spare the rod, spoil the child.'

Examples

"Le châtiment fut sévère mais juste."

Natural Translation

The punishment was severe but fair.

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