FinnHun Finnish-Hungarian-English on-line dictionary and thesaurus

n (US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons.

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

n (obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.

n (obsolete) One who does penance.

n (obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.

n (obsolete) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc., run by a cardinal called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope.

n (obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215 A.D., vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.

a of or relating to penance; penitential

a of or relating to the punishment of criminals