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Meaning Of Penitentiary
a.
Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of
penance.
a.
Expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter.
a.
Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.
n.
One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
n.
One who does penance.
n.
A small building in a monastery where penitents
confessed.
n.
That part of a church to which penitents were
admitted.
n.
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.
n.
An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested
with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
n.
A house of correction, in which offenders are
confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they
are generally compelled to labor.