different between penitentiary vs reformatory

English

Etymology

From Middle English penitentiary, from Medieval Latin p?nitenti?rius (“place of penitence”), from Latin paenitentia (“penitence”), term used by the Quakers in Pennsylvania during the 1790s, describing a place for penitents to dwell upon their sins.

Pronunciation

• enPR: p?n'·?·t?n?·sh?·r?, IPA^(key): /?p?n??t?n???i/

Noun

penitentiary (plural penitentiaries)

1. (chiefly US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons; (broadly) a prison.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:penitentiary.
2. A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
3. (obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
   • 1623, Francis Bacon, A Discourse of a War with Spain

     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.

4. (obsolete) One who does penance.
5. (obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Shipley to this entry?)

6. (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 who is appointed by the pope.
7. (obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.

Synonyms

• (prison): pen

Related terms

• pen
• penitence

Translations

Further reading

• Penitentiary (prison) in the 1921 edition of Collier's Encyclopedia.

Adjective

penitentiary (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to penance; penitential.
   • 1654, John Bramhall, A Just Vindication of the Church of England from the Unjust Aspersion of Criminal Schism

     A penitentiary tax.

2. Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.

   • Penitentiary houses.

Coordinate terms

• (relating to the punishment of criminals): carceral

Translations

English

Adjective

reformatory (comparative more reformatory, superlative most reformatory)

1. Of, pertaining to, or conducive to reform; reformative.

Noun

reformatory (plural reformatories)

1. A prison, especially one for juveniles; a reform school.

Synonyms

• (for juveniles): reform school, borstal, approved school, youth detention centre, juvenile hall, detention home

Translations

Further reading

• reformatory on Wikipedia.Wikipedia