penitentiary

pen·i·ten·tia·ry  (pn-tnsh-r)

n. pl. pen·i·ten·tia·ries

1. A prison for those convicted of major crimes.

2. Roman Catholic Church

a. A tribunal of the Roman Curia having jurisdiction in matters relating to penance, dispensations, and papal absolutions.

b. A priest whose special function is the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular church or diocese.

adj.

1. Of or for the purpose of penance; penitential.

2. Relating to or used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers.

3. Resulting in or punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary: a penitentiary offense.

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[Middle English penitenciarie, penance officer, episcopal prison, from Medieval Latin pnitentiria, feminine of pnitentirius, from Latin paenitentia, penitence, from paenitns, penitent; see penitent.]

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penitentiary [ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃərɪ]

n pl -ries

1. (Law) (in the US and Canada) a state or federal prison: in Canada, esp a federal prison for offenders convicted of serious crimes Sometimes shortened to pen

2. (Christianity / Roman Catholic Church) RC Church

a.  a cleric appointed to supervise the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular area

b.  a priest who has special faculties to absolve particularly grave sins

c.  a cardinal who presides over a tribunal that decides all matters affecting the sacrament of penance

d.  this tribunal itself

adj

1. another word for penitential [1]

2. (Law) US and Canadian (of an offence) punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary

[C15 (meaning also: an officer dealing with penances): from Medieval Latin poenitēntiārius, from Latin paenitēns penitent]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	penitentiary - a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes pen correctional institution - a penal institution maintained by the government
Adj.	1.	penitentiary - used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers; "penitentiary institutions" punitive, punitory - inflicting punishment; "punitive justice"; "punitive damages"
	2.	penitentiary - showing or constituting penance; "penitential tears"; "wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words" penitential penitent, repentant - feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

Translations

penitentiary [ˌpenɪˈtenʃərɪ] N (esp US) (= prison) → penitenciaria f

penitentiary [ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəri] n (US) → prison f

penitentiary

n (esp US: = prison) → Strafanstalt f, → Gefängnis nt

penitentiary [ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃərɪ] n (esp Am) (prison) → penitenziario, carcere m