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Plenipotentiary vs Penitentiary - What's the difference?

plenipotentiary | penitentiary |

As nouns the difference between plenipotentiary and penitentiary

is that plenipotentiary is a person invested with full power, especially as the diplomatic agent of a sovereign state, (originally) charged with handling a certain matter while penitentiary is a state or federal prison for convicted felons.

As adjectives the difference between plenipotentiary and penitentiary

is that plenipotentiary is invested with full power while penitentiary is of or relating to penance; penitential.

plenipotentiary

Noun

(plenipotentiaries)
  • A person invested with full power, especially as the diplomatic agent of a sovereign state, (originally) charged with handling a certain matter
  • 1985': Two of them are hanging up there on Golgotha, and that ought to be enough to show the authority of Rome’s ah '''plenipotentiary . — Anthony Burgess, ''Kingdom of the Wicked

    Derived terms

    * (ambassador and) minister plenipotentiary

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Invested with full power.
  • Of or relating to a plenipotentiary agent
  • Synonyms

    * plenipotent

    penitentiary

    English

    Noun

    (penitentiaries)
  • (US) A state or federal prison for convicted felons.
  • A priest in the Roman Catholic Church who administers the sacrament of penance.
  • (obsolete) One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance.
  • (Francis Bacon)
  • (obsolete) One who does penance.
  • (Hammond)
  • (obsolete) A small building in a monastery, or a part of a church, where penitents confessed.
  • (Shipley)
  • (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.
  • (obsolete) An officer in some dioceses since 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
  • Synonyms

    * (prison) pen

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of or relating to penance; penitential.
  • * Archbishop Bramhall:
  • A penitentiary tax.
  • Of or relating to the punishment of criminals.
  • * Blackstone:
  • Penitentiary houses.

    Coordinate terms

    * carceral