suru verb (special), transitive verb
Archaic transitive suru verb; used in historical or legal contexts for imposing punishment, especially capital punishment. Not used in modern Japanese.
古い法令では、重罪人を刑することが定められていた。
In old laws, it was stipulated that serious criminals be punished (especially with death).
Archaic kanji form; the verb is obsolete in modern Japanese.
Derived from 刑 (けい, 'punishment') + する (verbalizer). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the form is now obsolete.