on pain of

prep
/ɒn ˈpeɪn əv/UK/ɑn ˈpeɪn əv/US

Etymology

From on + pain (“suffering inflicted as punishment or penalty”) + of; compare French sous peine de.

Definitions

  1. Used to warn of consequences if a specified act is done or not done

    Used to warn of consequences if a specified act is done or not done: subject to the punishment of (some penalty); or (generally) subject to the circumstance of (some thing).

    • On paine of death, no perſon be ſo bold, Or daring, hardy, as to touch the liſtes, Except the Martiall and ſuch officers Appoynted to direct theſe faire deſignes.
    • [N]o flattery for't: No lick-foote, paine of looſing your proboſcis:[…]
    • Seb[astian]. […] [M]y duty, then, To interpoſe; on pain of my diſpleasure, Betwixt your Swords[.] Dor[ax]. On pain of Infamy He ſhould have diſobey'd.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for on pain of. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA