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Webster 1913 Edition

Penitentiary

Penˊi-ten′tia-ry

(pĕnˊĭ-tĕn′shȧ-ry̆)
,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
pénitentiaire
.]
1.
Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.
“A penitentiary tax.”
Abp. Bramhall.
2.
Expressive of penitence;
as, a
penitentiary
letter
.
3.
Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.
“Penitentiary houses.”
Blackstone.

Penˊi-ten′tia-ry

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Penitentiaries
(#)
.
[Cf. F.
pénitencier
. See
Penitent
.]
1.
One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
2.
One who does penance.
[Obs.]
Hammond.
3.
A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.
Shpiley.
4.
That part of a church to which penitents were admitted.
Shipley.
5.
(R. C. Ch.)
(a)
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.
(b)
An officer in some dioceses since
A. D.
1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
6.
A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor; a prison; a jail. Colloquially often shortened to
pen
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Penitentiary

PENITEN'TIARY

,
Adj.
Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.

PENITEN'TIARY

,
Noun.
One that prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
1.
A penitent; one that does penance.
2.
At the court of Rome, an office in which are examined and delivered out the secret bulls, graces or dispensations relating to cases of conscience, confession, &c.
3.
An officer in some cathedrals, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him. The pope has a grand penitentiary, who is a cardinal and is chief of the other penitentiaries.
4.
A house of correction in which offenders are confined for punishment and reformation, and compelled to labor; a workhouse. A state prison is a penitentiary.

Definition 2024

penitentiary

penitentiary

English

Noun

penitentiary ‎(plural penitentiaries)

  1. (US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons.
  2. A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
  3. (obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
  4. (obsolete) One who does penance.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Hammond to this entry?)
  5. (obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shipley to this entry?)
  6. (obsolete) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc.; run by a cardinal called the Grand Penitentiary who is appointed by the pope.
  7. (obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.

Synonyms

  • (prison): pen

Related terms

Translations

External links

Adjective

penitentiary ‎(not comparable)

  1. Of or relating to penance; penitential.
    • Archbishop Bramhall:
      A penitentiary tax.
  2. Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.
    • Blackstone:
      Penitentiary houses.

Coordinate terms

Translations

Etymology

From Medieval Latin penitentiaria ‎(“place of penitence”), term used by the Quakers in Pennsylvania during the 1790s, describing a place for penitents to dwell upon their sins.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: pĕn'·ĭ·tĕnʹ·shə·rē, IPA(key): /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəɹi/

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