Penates
- noun
- /pəˈneɪtiːz/
- Archaic
- The family treasured their Penates, passing many items down through generations.
Examples
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After the move, they carefully packed their Penates into labeled boxes for transport.
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He returned home to find his Penates scattered after the storm.
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The family's Penates are very important.
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Don't forget your Penates!
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The family treasured their Penates, passing many items down through generations.
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After the move, they carefully packed their Penates into labeled boxes for transport.
-
He returned home to find his Penates scattered after the storm.
Synonyms
Something that a person or group owns, for example land and buildings
Things you use in the home for cooking and cleaning like pots and pans
Things a person owns and can carry
Surface Forms
Etymology
Penates was the name of the household gods who watched over a family's food and things, so over time the word also came to mean the household's 'goods' or movable possessions. This makes it natural to use Penates for the things a family keeps in the home.