Penitentiary

Definition:

  • (a.) Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.
  • (a.) Expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter.
  • (a.) Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.
  • (n.) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
  • (n.) One who does penance.
  • (n.) A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.
  • (n.) That part of a church to which penitents were admitted.
  • (n.) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope.
  • (n.) An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
  • (n.) A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor.

Compare penitentiary with other words:

penitentiary vs. plenipotentiary

carceral vs. penitentiary

criminal vs. penitentiary

penitentiary vs. punishment

penitential vs. penitentiary

pen vs. penitentiary

absolve vs. penitentiary

bishop vs. penitentiary

diocese vs. penitentiary

officer vs. penitentiary

cardinal vs. penitentiary

penitentiary vs. pope

penitentiary vs. vow

dispensation vs. penitentiary

absolution vs. penitentiary

conscience vs. penitentiary

papal vs. penitentiary

court vs. penitentiary

office vs. penitentiary

confess vs. penitentiary

church vs. penitentiary

building vs. penitentiary

monastery vs. penitentiary

penance vs. penitentiary

penitentiary vs. sacrament

administer vs. penitentiary

felon vs. penitentiary

penitentiary vs. priest

penitentiary vs. prison

convicted vs. penitentiary

federal vs. penitentiary

penitentiary vs. state

penitence vs. penitentiary

penitent vs. penitentiary