Trestu

Trest is a Czech noun meaning punishment or penalty. Trestu is the genitive and dative singular form of trest, and trestu appears in that same form in many phrases. In ordinary speech and in legal language, trestu functions as a grammatical form rather than a standalone term.

Etymology and usage explain that trest derives from the Proto-Slavic root *trestъ, with cognates found in other Slavic languages. The form trestu is used when the noun is possessed, described, or linked to another element, as in bez trestu (without punishment) or důsledky trestu (consequences of the punishment). Phrases such as za trest (as punishment) and udělit trest (to impose a punishment) demonstrate its grammatical role in context rather than a distinct lexical item.

In legal contexts, trest denotes the sanction imposed by a court. The noun covers various penalties, including deprivation of liberty, fines, community service, and probation. The term appears in compound expressions such as trest odnětí svobody (sentence of imprisonment) and, in historical or formal language, trest smrti (death penalty). When discussing a case, one might encounter phrases like uložit trest (to impose a penalty) or skončit s trestem (to end with a sentence). The inflected form trestu is used to relate the punishment to other elements in a sentence, for example determining the consequences trestu či délku trestu.

See also: punishment, penalty, sentencing, Czech legal terminology. Notes on morphology are important for understanding how trestu functions within sentences rather than treating it as a separate concept.