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penitentiary

pen·i·ten·tia·ry [ pènni ténshəree ]


noun  (plural pen·i·ten·tia·ries)
Definition:
 
1. prison: a prison, especially for people who have been convicted of serious crimes

2. Roman Catholic official: a high official in the Roman Catholic Church who can grant absolution in extraordinary cases

3. Roman Catholic tribunal: a tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church dealing with penance



adjective 
Definition:
 
1. of penance: relating to penance

2. concerning punishment or reform: involving or used for the punishment or reform of offenders

3. criminal law punishable by imprisonment in penitentiary: punishable by a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary

[15th century. < medieval Latin paenitentiaria< Latin paenitentia (see penance)]
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