Penetrate

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PENETRATED; p. pr. & vb. n. PENETRATING.] [Lat. penetrare, penetratum, properly, to insert or thrust into the inside, from the root pen: It. penetrare, Pr. & Sp. penetrar, Fr. pénétrer. See PENATES.]

1. To enter into; to make way into the interior of, especially against difficulties or opposition; to effect an entrance into; to pierce.
2. Hence, to make a way into the mind or sense of; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to affect.
3. To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult subject, or the like; to comprehend; to find or understand the explanation of.

There shall we clearly see the uses of these things, which here were too subtle for us to penetrate. Ray.