Pen"e*trate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Penetrated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Penetrating.] [L. penetratus, p. p. of
penetrare to penetrate; akin to penitus inward,
inwardly, and perh. to pens with, in the power of, penus
store of food, innermost part of a temple.] 1. To
enter into; to make way into the interior of; to effect an entrance
into; to pierce; as, light penetrates darkness.
2. To affect profoundly through the senses or
feelings; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to move deeply; as,
to penetrate one's heart with pity. Shak.
The translator of Homer should penetrate himself
with a sense of the plainness and directness of Homer's
style.
M. Arnold.
3. To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at
the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult
subject; to comprehend; to understand.
Things which here were too subtile for us to
penetrate.
Ray.
Pen"e*trate, v. i. To pass; to make
way; to pierce. Also used figuratively.
Preparing to penetrate to the north and
west.
J. R. Green.
Born where Heaven's influence scarce can
penetrate.
Pope.
The sweet of life that penetrates so
near.
Daniel.
