penetralia

American  

[pen-i-trey-lee-uh] / ˌpɛn ɪˈtreɪ li ə /

plural noun

1. the innermost parts or recesses of a place or thing.

2. the most private or secret things.

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penetralia British  

/ ˌpɛnɪˈtreɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. the innermost parts

2. secret matters

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Other Word Forms

• penetralian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of penetralia

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin, noun use of neuter plural of penetrālis “inner,” equivalent to penetr(āre) “to penetrate ” + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penetralia

Like Kahn’s buildings, too, Lesser’s book has its penetralia, core elements to which one is only gradually led.

From New York Times ● Mar. 7, 2017

The book is littered with show-off phrases such as "alembicated piety" and "the penetralia of one's self-regard."

From Time Magazine Archive

"Pray, walk in, Mr. Sewell," she said, rising, and leading the way toward the penetralia of the best room.

From The Pearl of Orr's Island A Story of the Coast of Maine by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Yet at such an hour it will now be necessary to enter its penetralia.

From Auriol or, The Elixir of Life by W. Harrison Ainsworth

An arrased doorway right leads thro a passage to the street gate, and one left to the penetralia of the house, from which Marina enters deeply troubled.

From Porzia by Cale Young Rice