I. ˌpenəˈtench(ə)rē, -ri sometimes -chēˌer- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English penitenciary, from Medieval Latin poenitentiarius, from poenitentia penitence + Latin -arius -ary — more at penitence
1.
a. : an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him
b.
[Medieval Latin poenitentiaria, feminine of poenitentiarius ]
: a tribunal of the Roman curia dealing with cases concerning the private spiritual good of individuals especially in relation to the sacrament of penance, presided over by a cardinal priest, granting absolutions, dispensations, commutations, ratifications of impediments, and condonations, regulating the use and granting of indulgences, and deciding questions of conscience referred to the Holy See
2. obsolete
a. : a place for penitents
b. : penitent
3. : a place of refuge for reformation of prostitutes in 19th century England
4. : a public institution in which offenders against the law are confined for detention or for punishment, discipline, and reformation and in which they are generally compelled to labor ; specifically : a state or federal prison in the U.S. — compare house of correction , reformatory
II. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷, | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin poenitentiarius
1.
a. : of or relating to penance : prescribing or doing penance
b. : of or expressing penitence
2.
a. : used for punishment, discipline, and reformation
b. : making one liable to a term in a penitentiary
a penitentiary offense
c. : of, relating to, or confined in a penitentiary
improve penitentiary conditions
penitentiary inmates