lares and penates

American  

plural noun

1. Roman Religion. Lares and Penates, the benevolent spirits and gods of the household.

2. the cherished possessions of a family or household.

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lares and penates British  

/ ˈlɑː-, ˈlɛəriːz /

plural noun

1. Roman myth

   1. household gods

   2. statues of these gods kept in the home

2. the valued possessions of a household

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Etymology

Origin of lares and penates

1765–75; < Latin Larēs ( et ) Penātēs

Example Sentences

The most prominent and revered of them all were the Lares and Penates.

From Literature

There were also public Lares and Penates, who did for the city what the others did for the family.

From Literature

Starting with the mid-19th-century former rectory in which he lives, he introduces us to a universe of fact, anecdote, history and whimsy spun out of the lares and penates around him.

From Washington Post

Nevertheless, as a mark of particular respect to some important chief now and then, affectionate survivors exempted his corpse from the oven, and smoking it entire, set it up amongst the Maori lares and penates as an ornament.

From Project Gutenberg

He no longer resisted; and, as he was too weak to walk, Æneas bade him hold the Lares and Penates, and, taking him on his back, carried him off, while with one hand he led his little son, and bade Creusa closely follow him.

From Project Gutenberg