penetralia

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɛ.nəˈtɹeɪ.li.ə/, /ˌpɛ.nəˈtɹeɪ.ljə/
• Rhymes: -eɪliə

penetralia pl (plural only)

1. The innermost, secret or hidden parts; mysteries.
2. The innermost parts of a building, such as a shrine, recess or a sanctuary within a temple.
   • 1748, [Tobias Smollett], The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] [William Strahan] for J. Osborn […], →OCLC:

     I believe, had I been in the inmost recesses of my habitation—the very penetralia—your eagerness would have surmounted bolts, bars, decency, and everything.

   • 1857, Anthony Trollope, “Mrs. Bold is Entertained by Dr. and Mrs. Grantly at Plumstead”, in Barchester Towers. […], copyright edition, volume II, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, published 1859, →OCLC, page 12:

     He wished to be what he called "safe" with all those whom he had admitted to the penetralia of his house and heart.

   • 1880, Thomas Hardy, “A Discovery Turns the Scale”, in The Trumpet-Major […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 94:

     […] Bob's countenance was sublimed by his recent interview, like that of a priest just come from the penetralia of the temple.

• penetralian

penetrālia

1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter plural of penetrālis