Lewis & Short

Pĕnātes, ĭum (Penatis singulariter Labeo Antistius posse dici putat, quia pluraliter Penates dicuntur, cum patiatur proportio etiam Penas dici, ut optimas, primas, Antias, Fest. p. 253 Müll. But the singular is never used; and for Δενας = Πενας, which some assume in Dion. Hal. 1, 68, it is probably most correct to read ΔIS ΜΑΓΝΙΣ, v. Ambrosch, Studien und Andeut. vol. i. p. 231 sq.
Acc. plur. PENATEIS, perh. Tab. Bant. lin. 22), m. [from the root pa, whence pascor, pabulum, pānis; also penus, and, through the notion of a storehouse or inner chamber, also penes, penetro; v. Curt. Gr. Etym. p. 270 sq.; cf. Corss. Ausspr. 1, p. 425 sq.].

  1. I. Lit., the Penates, old Latin guardian deities of the household, and of the state formed of a union of households, whose seat was originally in Lavinium; usually connected with di: IN VELIA APVD AEDEM DEVM PENATIVM, Inscr. Varr. L. L. 5, § 54 Müll.; cf.: aedes deorum Penatium in Veliā, Liv. 45, 16: AEDEM DEVM PENATIVM IN VELIA, Monum. Ancyr.: di Penates, Plaut. Merc. 5, 1, 5 sq.: in mensā Penatium deorum, Naev. ap. Prob. Verg. E. 6, 31: sanctis Penatium deorum Larumque familiarium sedibus, Cic. Rep. 5, 5, 7; id. Deiot. 5, 15: MENS. IANVAR. SACRIFICANT. DIS. PENATIBVS, Calend. Farnes. ap. Inscr. Orell. 2, p. 380: v. s. Inscr. Orell. 1677; cf. ib. 1675 and 1678: DIIS. DEABVS PENATIBVS FAMILIARIBVS ET IOVI CETERISQVE DIIBVS, ib. 2118.
    Without di: vos Penates patriique dii, Cic. Sest. 20, 45: Ilium in Italiam portans victosque Penatis, Verg. A. 1, 68; 5, 62: impudens liqui patrios Penatis, Hor. C. 3, 27, 49: hostia Mollivit aversos Penates, id. ib. 3, 23, 19: iniqui, id. ib. 2, 4, 15: profugos posuistis Penates, Ov. M. 3, 539; 9, 445; id. Tr. 1, 3, 45: IVNIANI, Inscr. Orell. 1587; cf., respecting the Penates, Cic. N. D. 2, 27, 68; Varr. and Nigid. ap. Arn. 3, 123; Macr. 3, 4; Serv. Verg. A. 2, 296 and 325.
  2. II. Transf., a dwelling, home, hearth (cf. Lares, II.): Quintius a suis dis penatibus praeceps ejectus, Cic. Quint. 26, 83; id. Rosc. Am. 8, 23: nostris succede penatibus hospes, Verg. A. 8, 123: ferro Libycos populare penates, id. ib. 1, 527: conducti penates, Mart. 8, 75, 1: sub uno tecto esse atque ad eosdem penates, Liv. 28, 18.
    Hence, poet., of the hearth: flammis adolere penatis, Verg. A. 1, 704.
    Also, of the cells of bees, Verg. G. 4, 155; of the temple of a god, Stat. Th. 1, 643.