\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.