1.
[syn: punitive damages, exemplary damages, smart money]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Damage \Dam"age\ (d[a^]m"[asl]j; 48), n. [OF. damage, domage, F.
dommage, fr. assumed LL. damnaticum, from L. damnum damage.
See Damn.]
1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an
inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief.
[1913 Webster]
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage. --Prov.
xxvi. 6.
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Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of
a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage
both of their fame and fortune. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
2. pl. (Law) The estimated reparation in money for detriment
or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or
satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually
done to him by another.
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Note: In common-law actions, the jury are the proper judges
of damages.
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Consequential damage. See under Consequential.
Exemplary damages (Law), damages imposed by way of example
to others. Similar in purpose to vindictive damages,
below.
Nominal damages (Law), those given for a violation of a
right where no actual loss has accrued.
vindictive damages or punitive damages, those given
specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer.
Syn: Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See
Mischief.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
punitive damages
n 1: (law) compensation in excess of actual damages (a form of
punishment awarded in cases of malicious or willful
misconduct) [syn: punitive damages, exemplary damages,
smart money]