penus

pĕnus, ūs and i, m. and f., also pĕ-num, i, and pĕnus, ŏris, n. ( gen. peneris, peniteris, only acc. to Gell. 4, 1, 2; a collat. form pĕnu, Afran., acc. to Charis. p. 113 P.; cf. also Don. Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 18) [from the root pa- of pasco; Gr. pateomai; v. penates].

I.

Store or provision of food provisions, victuals:

est enim omne, quo vescuntur homines, penus,

Cic. N. D. 2, 27, 68; cf. other and different explanations in Gell. 4, 1, and tit.:

De penu legatā,

Dig. 33, 9:

annuus,

Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 45; Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 19:

omne penus,

Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 91:

ut sibi penum aliud ornet,

id. Capt. 4, 4, 12:

condus promus sum, procurator peni,

id. Ps. 2, 2, 14: magna penus, Lucil. ap. Non. 219, 29:

vinum penumque omnem,

Pompon. ib. 30: in penum erile, Afran. ap. Prisc. p. 659 P.: aliquem penore privare, Auct. ap. id. ib.:

portet frumenta penusque,

Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 72:

ne situ penora mucorem contrahant,

Col. 12, 4, 4:

cum ea res innoxia penora conservet,

id. ib. fin.:

avium cujusque generis multiplex penus,

Suet. Ner. 11:

in locuplete penu,

Pers. 3, 73.—

II.

The innermost part of a temple of Vesta, the sanctuary:

penus vocatur locus intimus in aede Vestae,

Fest. p. 250 Müll.; cf. [p. 1332] Serv. Verg. A. 3, 12:

in penum Vestae, quod, etc., irrupit,

Lampr. Elag. 6.