pĕnē̆trālis, e, adj. [penetro].
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.: pĕnē̆trāle , is ( pĕnē̆tral , Macr. S. 7, 1; Symm. Ep. 2, 34), n.; usually in plur.: pĕnē̆trālĭa , ium, the inner part , interior of any thing, esp. of a building; the inside space , an inner room (mostly poet.; not in Cic. or Caes.; 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.: pĕnē̆trālĭter , inwardly , internally (post-class.), Ven. Vit. S. Mart. 4, 597.