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Webster 1913 Edition


Penetration

Pen′e-traˊtion

,
Noun.
[L.
penetratio
: cf. F.
pénétration
.]
1.
The act or process of penetrating, piercing, or entering; also, the act of mentally penetrating into, or comprehending, anything difficult.
And to each in ward part,
With gentle
penetration
, though unseen,
Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep.
Milton.
A
penetration
into the difficulties of algebra.
Watts.
2.
Acuteness; insight; sharp discoverment; sagacity;
as, a person of singular
penetration
.
Walpole.
Syn. – Discernment; sagacity; acuteness; sharpness; discrimination. See
Discernment
, and
Sagacity
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Penetration

PENETRA'TION

,
Noun.
The act of entering a body.
1.
Mental entrance into any thing abstruse; as a penetration into the abstruse difficulties of algebra.
2.
Acuteness; sagacity; as a man of great or nice penetration.

Definition 2024


penetration

penetration

See also: pénétration

English

Noun

penetration (plural penetrations)

  1. The act of penetrating something. [from 15th c.]
    Any penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense.
  2. Specifically, the insertion of the **** (or similar object) during sexual intercourse. [from 17th c.]
  3. The act of penetrating a given situation with the mind or faculties; perception, discernment. [from 17th c.]
    • 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy, XVI:
      my observations of her looks and actions became acutely sharpened, and that to a degree which, notwithstanding my efforts to conceal it, could not escape her penetration.
  4. (blackjack) A number or fraction that represents how many cards/decks will be dealt before shuffling, in contrast to the total number of cards/decks in play.

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