infernal
pronunciation
How to pronounce infernal in British English:
UK [ɪnˈfɜ:nl]
How to pronounce infernal in American English:
US [ɪnˈfɜrnl]
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- Noun:
- an inhabitant of hell
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- Adjective:
- characteristic of or resembling hell
- extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
- expletives used informally as intensifiers
- relating to or inhabiting hell
- being of a lower world of the dead
Word Origin
- infernal (adj.)
- late 14c., in reference to the underworld, from Old French enfernal, infernal (12c.), from Late Latin infernalis "of the lower regions," from infernus "hell" (Ambrose), literally "the lower (world)," noun use of Latin infernus "lower, lying beneath," from infra "below" (see infra-). Meaning "devilish, hateful" is from early 15c. For the name of the place, or things which resemble it, the Italian form inferno has been used in English since 1834, from Dante. Related: Infernally.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Shed wealth and pleasure , swift the infernal god .
- 2. I will see him in infernal affairs soon .
- 3. Goodbye policeman goodbye in infernal affairs piano .
- 4. He ruleth over 66 legions of infernal spirits .
- 5. But this paradise was henceforth complicated with an infernal accompaniment .