penetration

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe act of penetrating something.First known use 15th c.
2. countableuncountableThe insertion of the penis (or similar object) during sexual intercourse.First known use 17th c.

   Any penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense.

   1 more example

   A person (A) commits an offence if— (a) he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, (b) B does not consent to the penetration, and (c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents.

   2003, Parliament of the United Kingdom, “Part I, section 1(1)”, in Sexual Offences Act 2003ᵂⁱᵏⁱˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ, page 1

3. countableuncountableThe act of penetrating a given situation with the mind or faculties; perception, discernment.First known use 17th c.

   I have no respect for the penetration of any man who can read the report of that conversation, and still call the principal in it insane.

   1859, Henry David Thoreau, A Plea for Captain John Brown

   1 more example

   […] 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.

   1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter III, in Rob Roy. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 46

In a sentence

Any penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense.

Where it comes from

1. Latinpenetrātiō
2. Old Frenchpenetracïon
3. Middle Englishpenetracioun
4. Englishpenetration

From Middle English penetracioun, from Old French penetracïon, and its source, Latin penetrātiō, from the participle stem of penetrō (“pierce”, verb). Morphologically penetrate + -ion.

First known use: 15th c.