penitentiary
/ˌpenɪˈtenʃərɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- N. Amer. a prison for people convicted of serious crimes〈北美〉（关押重罪犯人的）监狱。
2
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) a priest appointed to administer penance（罗马天主教的）宗教裁判官。
2.1
- an office in the papal court forming a tribunal for deciding on questions relating to penance, dispensations, and absolution（天主教法庭的）宗教裁判所。
词源
late Middle English (as a term in ecclesiastical law)： from medieval Latin paenitentiarius, from Latin paenitentia 'repentance'. The North American usage dates from the early 19th cent.