Definitions for penitentiary
ˌpɛn ɪˈtɛn ʃə ripen·i·ten·tia·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penitentiary, penadjective

   a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes

2. penitentiaryadjective

   used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers

   "penitentiary institutions"

3. penitential, penitentiaryadjective

   showing or constituting penance

   "penitential tears"; "wrote a penitential letter apologizing for her hasty words"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penitentiarynoun

   A state or federal prison for convicted felons.

2. penitentiarynoun

   (Roman Catholic Church) A priest who administers the sacrament of penance.

3. penitentiaryadjective

   of or relating to penance; penitential

4. penitentiaryadjective

   of or relating to the punishment of criminals

5. Etymology: From penitentiaria, term used by the Quakers in Pennsylvania during the 1790s, describing a place for penitents to dwell upon their sins.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penitentiarynoun

   Etymology: penitencier, Fr. pœnitentiarius, low Latin.

   1. One who prescribes the rules and measures of pennance.

   Upon the loss of Urbin, the duke’s undoubted right, no penitentiary, though he had enjoined him never so straight pennance to expiate his first offence, would have counselled him to have given over pursuit of his right, which he prosperously re-obtained. Francis Bacon.

   The great penitentiary with his counsellors prescribes the measure of pennance. John Ayliffe, Parergon.

   2. A penitent; one who does pennance.

   A prison restrained John Northampton’s liberty, who, for abusing the same in his unruly mayoralty of London, was condemned hither as a perpetual penitentiary. Carew.

   To maintain a painful fight against the law of sin, is the work of the penitentiary. Henry Hammond.

   3.The place where pennance is enjoined. Robert Ainsworth

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penitentiary

   A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, British English, Australian, South African and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correctional facility, lock-up, hoosegow or remand center, is a facility in which inmates (or prisoners) are confined against their will and usually denied a variety of freedoms under the authority of the state as punishment for various crimes. Prisons are most commonly used within a criminal justice system: people charged with crimes may be imprisoned until their trial; those pleading or being found guilty of crimes at trial may be sentenced to a specified period of imprisonment. In simplest terms, a prison can also be described as a building in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime they have committed. Prisons can also be used as a tool of political repression by authoritarian regimes. Their perceived opponents may be imprisoned for political crimes, often without trial or other legal due process; this use is illegal under most forms of international law governing fair administration of justice. In times of war, prisoners of war or detainees may be detained in military prisons or prisoner of war camps, and large groups of civilians might be imprisoned in internment camps. In American English, the terms prison and jail have separate definitions, though this is not always strictly adhered to in casual speech. A prison or penitentiary holds people for longer periods of time, such as many years, and is operated by a state or federal government. A jail holds people for shorter periods of time (e.g. for shorter sentences or pre-trial detention) and is usually operated by a local government, typically the county sheriff. Outside of North America, prison and jail often have the same meaning.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penitentiaryadjective

   relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance

2. Penitentiaryadjective

   expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter

3. Penitentiaryadjective

   used for punishment, discipline, and reformation

4. Penitentiarynoun

   one who prescribes the rules and measures of penance

5. Penitentiarynoun

   one who does penance

6. Penitentiarynoun

   a small building in a monastery where penitents confessed

7. Penitentiarynoun

   that part of a church to which penitents were admitted

8. Penitentiarynoun

   an office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope

9. Penitentiarynoun

   an officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him

10. Penitentiarynoun

    a house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor

11. Etymology: [Cf. F. pnitentiaire.]

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Penitentiary

   The modern name for a “Magdalen Hospital,” designed as a home or refuge for fallen women who are penitent. This term was adopted also by the Quakers of Philadelphia in 1786 for a prison.

How to pronounce penitentiary?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say penitentiary in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of penitentiary in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of penitentiary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of penitentiary in a Sentence

1. Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro:

   If they return to Brazil, they will get a one-way ticket to a federal penitentiary.

2. Stephen Komie:

   He is his own most dangerous enemy if he gets on the witness stand, that's what could trigger a ride to the penitentiary. Judges do not like perjury.

3. Dan Jenkins:

   Oakland Hills looked more like a penitentiary than a golf course.

4. Michael Avenatti:

   My client and I hope that he is sentenced to the absolute maximum federal penitentiary time.

5. H. L. Mencken:

   All [zoos] actually offer to the public in return for the taxes spent upon them is a form of idle and witless amusement, compared to which a visit to a penitentiary, or even to a State legislature in session, is informing, stimulating and ennobling.

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