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.
实用例句
1. If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.
倘使不得已而要对在监狱与白宫里度过四年作一选择的话, 我会说——监狱, 谢谢.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. He worked as a warden at the state penitentiary.
他在这所州监狱任看守长.
来自辞典例句
3. Next day Paul was sentenced to three years in the State Penitentiary and taken off.
第二天,保罗被判三年徒刑,随即解往州监狱.
来自辞典例句
4. While he was in the penitentiary her father died and the family broke up.
他坐牢的时候,她的父亲死了,家庭就拆散了.
来自辞典例句
5. Now , you remember when you went to visit my pop in Lewisburg Penitentiary?
