relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.-expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter.-used for punishment, discipline, and reformation.-one who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.-one who does penance.-a small building in a monastery where penitents confessed.-that part of a church to which penitents were admitted.-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.-an officer in some dioceses since a. d. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.-a house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor.