penates

plural noun Roman Religion.

1. gods who watched over the home or community to which they belonged: originally, two deities of the storeroom.

pl n

1. See lares and penates

n.Roman household gods, 1510s, from Latin penates “gods of the inside of the house,” related to penatus “sanctuary of a temple” (especially that of Vesta), cognate with penitus “within” (see penetrate).