Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER'ME-ATE, v.t. [L. permeo; per and meo, to glide, flow or pass.]

To pass through the pores or interstices of a body; to penetrate and pass through a substance without rupture or displacement of its parts; applied particularly to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand or a filtering stone; light permeates glass.