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penitentiary - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'penitentiary' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Penitentiary [ a.]
- Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.
- Expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter.
- Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.
2 . Penitentiary [ n.]
- One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
- One who does penance.
- A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.
- That part of a church to which penitents were admitted.
- 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.
- An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
- A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor.

Meaning of 'penitentiary' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . penitentiary [ s]
Meaning (1):
- showing or constituting penance
Example in sentence:
  • penitential tears;
  • wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words
Meaning (2):
- used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
Example in sentence:
  • penitentiary institutions

Nearby Words:

pen penal penality penalize penally penalties penalty penance penanced penanceless

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