Penitentiaries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Penitentiary \Pen`i*ten"tia*ry\, n.; pl. {Penitentiaries}. [Cf.
     F. p['e]nitencier. See {Penitent}.]
     1. One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
        [Obs.] --Bacon.
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     2. One who does penance. [Obs.] --Hammond.
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     3. A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.
        --Shpiley.
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     4. That part of a church to which penitents were admitted.
        --Shipley.
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     5. (R. C. Ch.)
        (a) 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.
        (b) An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested
            with power from the bishop to absolve in cases
            reserved to him.
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     6. A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for
        punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they
        are generally compelled to labor; a prison; a jail.
        Colloquially often shortened to {pen}.
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