I. Piercing, penetrating (ante-class.): “frigus,” Lucr. 1, 494: “ignis,” id. 1, 535: “fulmineus multo penetralior ignis,” id. 2, 382.—
II. Transf., inward, inner, internal, interior, innermost (mostly poet.): “tecta,” Verg. G. 1, 379: “aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem,” id. A. 2, 297: “abditi ac penetrales foci,” Cic. Har. Resp. 27, 57: “di Penates ... ab eo, quod penitus insideret: ex quo etiam penetrales a poëtis vocantur,” id. N. D. 2, 27, 68; so, “per penetrales deos,” Sen. Oedip. 265; id. Phoen. 340: penetrale sacrificium dicitur, quod interiore parte sacrarii conficitur: unde et penetralia cujusque dicuntur; “et penes nos, quod in potestate nostrā est,” Fest. p. 250 Müll.—As subst.: pĕnē^trāle , is (pĕnē^tral , Macr. S. 7, 1; Symm. Ep. 2, 34), n.; usually in plur.: pĕnē^trālĭa , ium, the inner part, interior of any thing, esp. of a building; the inside space, an inner room (mostly poet.; not in Cic. or Cæs.; cf. adytum).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “penetrale urbis,” Liv. 41, 20, 7: “in ipsis penetralibus (Britanniae),” Tac. Agr. 30: “apparent Priami et veterum penetralia regum,” the inner chambers, Verg. A. 2, 484: “in penetralibus regum ipsorum,” Vulg. Psa. 104, 30; so, “penetralia alta medio tecti,” Verg. A. 7, 59: “magni amnis penetralia,” Ov. M. 1, 574; Sil. 7, 501.—
B. In partic.
1. A sanctuary, esp. that of the Penates, a chapel: “penetralia sunt penatium deorum sacraria,” Fest. p. 208 Müll.: “Capitolini Tonantis,” Mart. 10, 51.—
2. Transf., poet., the Penates, guardian deities: “huc vittas castumque refer penetrale parentum,” Sil. 13, 62: “avi penetralia Turni,” id. 1, 668.—
II. Trop., an inner place, secret place, a secret (post-Aug.), Stat. S. 3, 5, 56: “loci aperire penetralia,” Quint. 6, 2, 25: “auxilia ex ipsis sapientiae penetralibus petere,” id. 12 prooem. § 3: “ animus secedit in loca pura ... Haec eloquentiae penetralia,” Tac. Or. 12: “penetralia animi,” Ambros. in Luc. 1, 1, 12: “mentis,” id. ib. 1, 5, 105.—With esp. reference to the signif. sanctuary (v. supra, I. B.): “ut tantum intra suum penetral existimes adorandam (philosophiam),” Macr. S. 7, 1: “sanctum penetral animi tui nesciunt,” Symm. Ep. 2, 34. —Adv.: pĕnē^trālĭter , inwardly, internally (post-class.), Ven. Vit. S. Mart. 4, 597.
