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Definition of Penitentiary in English :

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Penitentiary meaning in English

Meaning of Penitentiary in English

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Penitentiary pronunciation in English

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Penitentiary

see synonyms of penitentiary

Noun

1. pen, penitentiary

a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes

Adjective

2. penitentiary

used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers

Example Sentences:
'penitentiary institutions'

3. penitential, penitentiary

showing or constituting penance

Example Sentences:
'penitential tears'
'wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Penitentiary

see synonyms of penitentiary
noun plural -ries
1. 
(in the US and Canada) a state or federal prison: in Canada, esp a federal prison for offenders convicted of serious crimes
. Sometimes shortened to: pen
2. Roman Catholic Church
a. 
a cleric appointed to supervise the administration of the sacrament of penance in a particular area
b. 
a priest who has special faculties to absolve particularly grave sins
c. 
a cardinal who presides over a tribunal that decides all matters affecting the sacrament of penance
d. 
this tribunal itself
adjective
3.  another word for penitential (sense 1)
4. US and Canadian
(of an offence) punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Penitentiary

see synonyms of penitentiary
adjective
1. 
of or for penance
2. 
used in punishing, disciplining, and reforming
3. 
making one liable to imprisonment in a penitentiary
4. 
of or in a penitentiary
nounWord forms: plural ˌpeniˈtentiaries
5. 
a. 
a prison
b.  US
a state or federal prison for persons convicted of serious crimes
6. 
an office or tribunal headed by a cardinal (Grand Penitentiary) and dealing with matters of penance, confession, dispensation, absolution, etc.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Penitentiary

see synonyms of penitentiary
n. pl. pen·i·ten·tia·ries
1. A prison for those convicted of major crimes.
2. 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.
adj.
1. Of or for the purpose of penance; penitential.
2. Relating to or used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers.
3. Resulting in or punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary: a penitentiary offense.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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