Penitentiary Definition

pĕnĭ-tĕnshə-rē
penitentiaries
noun
penitentiaries
A prison.
Webster's New World
A state or federal prison for persons convicted of serious crimes.
Webster's New World
An office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.
Webster's New World
A priest whose special function is the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular church or diocese.
American Heritage

A penal institution that is intended for long-term confinement of convicted criminals. See also jail.

Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
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adjective
Of or for penance.
Webster's New World
Used in punishing, disciplining, and reforming.
Webster's New World
Making one liable to imprisonment in a penitentiary.
Webster's New World
Of or in a penitentiary.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Penitentiary

Noun

Singular:
penitentiary
Plural:
penitentiaries

Origin of Penitentiary

  • Middle English penitenciarie penance officer, episcopal prison from Medieval Latin pēnitentiāria feminine of pēnitentiārius from Latin paenitentia penitence from paenitēns penitent penitent

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • 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.

    From Wiktionary

Penitentiary Sentence Examples

  • A penitentiary was established in 1817 at Milledgeville.

  • The centres of population are Noumea (Numea), the capital, on a fine harbour of the west coast near the southern extremity of the island, with 7000 inhabitants; Bourail, an agricultural penitentiary (1800); La Foa, in the centre of the coffee plantations; Moindu, St Louis and St Vincent.

  • Other prominent buildings are the United States court house and post office, the state supreme court house, the county court house, the state penitentiary, the state armoury and the executive mansion.

  • The note struck first in the Walnut Street penitentiary began a new era in prison treatment, and the methods adopted were destined to extend over the whole world.

  • The state maintains a penitentiary at Carson City and an insane asylum at Reno.

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Words Starting With

PPEPEN

Words Ending With

YRYARY

Unscrambles

penitentiary

Words Starting With P and Ending With Y

Starts With P & Ends With YStarts With PE & Ends With YStarts With P & Ends With RY

Word Length

12 Letter Words12 Letter Words Starting With P12 Letter Words Ending With Y