pĕnus, ūs and i, m. and f., also pĕ-num, i, and pĕnus, ŏris, n. (gen. peneris, peniteris, only acc. to Gell. 4, 1, 2; a collat. form pĕnu, Afran., acc. to Charis. p. 113 P.; cf. also Don. Ter. Eun. 309) [from the root pa- of pasco; Gr. πατέομαι; v. penates].
I Store or provision of food provisions , victuals : est enim omne, quo vescuntur homines, penus, Cic. N. D. 2, 27, 68; cf. other and different explanations in Gell. 4, 1, and tit.: De penu legatā, Dig. 33, 9: annuus, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 45; Ter. Eun. 310: omne penus, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 91: ut sibi penum aliud ornet, id. Capt. 4, 4, 12: condus promus sum, procurator peni, id. Ps. 2, 2, 14: magna penus, Lucil. ap. Non. 219, 29: vinum penumque omnem, Pompon. ib. 30: in penum erile, Afran. ap. Prisc. p. 659 P.: aliquem penore privare, Auct. ap. id. ib.: portet frumenta penusque, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 72: ne situ penora mucorem contrahant, Col. 12, 4, 4: cum ea res innoxia penora conservet, id. ib. fin. : avium cujusque generis multiplex penus, Suet. Ner. 11: in locuplete penu, Pers. 3, 73.—
II The innermost part of a temple of Vesta, the sanctuary : penus vocatur locus intimus in aede Vestae, Fest. p. 250 Müll.; cf. Serv. Verg. A. 3, 12: in penum Vestae, quod, etc., irrupit, Lampr. Elag. 6.