1. household gods in ancient Roman religion, especially those protecting the home and family
Usage: Roman mythology; usually plural
2. one’s household possessions or domestic belongings
Usage: literary; figurative use

Examples

• The Roman family honored their penates with daily offerings.
• Ancient Romans believed the penates protected their home from harm.
• The household shrine contained images of the penates.
• After the fire, they lost all their penates and had to start over.
• The refugees carried their few penates in small bundles.
• She carefully packed her penates before moving to the new house.