penitentiary

pen·i·ten·tia·ry

Use penitentiary in a sentence

Interior of a prison.

adjective

The definition of penitentiary is punishable by imprisonment, or used for punishment or disciplining.
An example of penitentiary used as an adjective is in the phrase "penitentiary ruling," which means a ruling sending someone to prison for punishment.

noun

Penitentiary is defined as a prison, or a tribunal in the Roman Catholic Church.
1. An example of a penitentiary is a federal prison.
2. An example of a penitentiary is a judgment session overseen by a cardinal that deals with questions of conscience.

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MLA Style

"penitentiary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY>.

APA Style

penitentiary. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY

penitentiary

of or for penance
used in punishing, disciplining, and reforming
making one liable to imprisonment in a penitentiary
of or in a penitentiary

Origin of penitentiary

Medieval Latin penitentiarius, poenitentiarius (form and meaning influenced, influence by associated, association with Classical Latin poena: see penal) from Classical Latin paenitentia from paenitens, penitent

noun

pl. -·ries

Origin of penitentiary
ML penitentiaria < the adj.
1. a prison
2. a state or federal prison for persons convicted of serious crimes
Origin of penitentiary
ML(Ec) penitentiarius < the adj.
an office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.

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MLA Style

"penitentiary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY>.

APA Style

penitentiary. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY

penitentiary

noun

pl. pen·i·ten·tia·ries

A prison for those convicted of major crimes.
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.

adjective

Of or for the purpose of penance; penitential.
Relating to or used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers.
Resulting in or punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary: a penitentiary offense.

Origin of penitentiary

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

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"penitentiary." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 24 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY>.

APA Style

penitentiary. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PENITENTIARY

Noun

(plural penitentiaries)

(US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons.
A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.

Adjective

(not comparable)

Of or relating to penance; penitential.
Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.

Origin

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.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.