permeation
noun
Permeation — the gradual, thorough spreading of one thing through another
Definition
Mutual penetration; diffusion of each through the other
In depth
Permeation, like interpenetration, names mutual penetration, the diffusion of each thing through the other, but the word carries a gentler, more gradual connotation, often used to describe liquids, gases, ideas, or influences spreading slowly and thoroughly through a medium until they have become inseparable from it.
Origin
The word descends from Latin permeare, to pass through, formed from per- (through) and meare (to go or pass). That sense of passing thoroughly through, rather than merely touching or entering briefly, gives the word its characteristic emphasis on completeness, the sense that whatever has permeated something has done so fully and lastingly.
Usage examples
"The permeation of the dye through the fabric took several hours, the color deepening gradually with each passing minute."
"Sociologists studied the slow permeation of digital technology into nearly every aspect of daily life."
"Grief's permeation through every corner of the house felt, in those first weeks, total and inescapable."
How to use it
Permeation is useful across scientific, sociological, and figurative emotional writing, particularly effective when a writer wants to emphasize gradual, thorough spreading rather than sudden or forceful entry.
Related concepts
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