I. ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē noun
( plural -ries )
Etymology: Middle English penitenciary, from Medieval Latin poenitentiarius, from poenitentia
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to deal with cases of a nature normally handled only by the bishop
b. capitalized : a cardinal presiding over a tribunal of the Roman curia concerned with dispensations and indulgences
2. : a public institution in which offenders against the law are confined for detention or punishment ; specifically : a state or federal prison in the United States
II. ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē, 1 also -ˈten(t)-shē-ˌer-ē adjective
Date: 1577
1. : penitential
2. : of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary