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Synonyms for penitentiary

Grammar : Noun
Spell : pen-i-ten-shuh-ree
Phonetic Transcription : ˌpɛn ɪˈtɛn ʃə ri

Top 10 synonyms for penitentiary
Other synonyms for the word penitentiary

Définition of penitentiary

Origin :
  • early 15c., "place of punishment for offenses against the church," from Medieval Latin penitentiaria, from fem. of penitentiarius (adj.) "of penance," from Latin paenitentia "penitence" (see penitence). Meaning "house of correction" (originally an asylum for prostitutes) is from 1806, short for penitentiary house (1776). Slang shortening pen is attested from 1884.
  • noun jail
Example sentences :
  • Were they all mad—was he not standing with one foot in the penitentiary?
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • He is to be beaten, understand, if we have to send him to the penitentiary on an old issue to do it.
  • Extract from : « The Gentleman From Indiana » by Booth Tarkington
  • But the ‘strays’ are ‘crooks,’ and their homes the penitentiary.
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • By his own admission he was against the law, a “crook,” and—the penitentiary was looming.
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • “If all we hear is true, his end will be the penitentiary,” she declared with decision.
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • I tell you if Charlie goes to the penitentiary I go with him.
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • If she does not go to the penitentiary, there are no bottles of beer and there is no beer-opener.
  • Extract from : « Philo Gubb Correspondence-School Detective » by Ellis Parker Butler
  • He declared the whole affair was “framed up” to send him to the penitentiary.
  • Extract from : « The Mountain Divide » by Frank H. Spearman
  • I do not hesitate to say that if you had your deserts you would be in the Penitentiary.
  • Extract from : « Paul Prescott's Charge » by Horatio Alger
  • Such a thing had never been known in the penitentiary's history before.
  • Extract from : « A Set of Six » by Joseph Conrad
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019