inferno
pronunciation
How to pronounce inferno in British English:
UK [ɪnˈfɜ:nəʊ]
How to pronounce inferno in American English:
US [ɪnˈfɜrnoʊ]
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- Noun:
- any place of pain and turmoil
- a very intense and uncontrolled fire
Word Origin
- inferno
- inferno: [19] Etymologically, an inferno is that which is ‘below’. The word comes ultimately from Latin infernus, meaning ‘situated below, subterranean’. In ancient mythology, the nether regions were the abode of the dead, so inferna came to be used as the equivalent of Dis, and the Greek Hades. In Jewish and Christian belief, this basement area was the realm of evil spirits, and consequently in late Latin infernus came to cover much the same semantic ground as English hell.In Italian this became inferno, and English adopted it (strongly under the influence of the Inferno of Dante’s Divine Comedy) in that form in the early 19th century. Its metaphorical use for ‘intense heat’, inspired by the stereotypical flames of hell, is a comparatively recent development. Meanwhile the related infernal [14] (from late Latin infernalis) had long since taken up residence in English, and by the 18th century was being used as an expletive (as in ‘their infernal cheek’).
- inferno (n.)
- 1834, from Italian inferno, from Latin infernus (see infernal).
Example
- 1. Not surprisingly nietzsche made several references to dante 's inferno during that period .
- 2. The windows had iron bars on them leaving only one door to escape the inferno .
- 3. Mr sheets met hostages emerging from the inferno , wounded , filthy and in shock .
- 4. Amid this inferno nicaragua , the poorest country in mainland latin america , is remarkably safe .
- 5. The live coverage had already shifted from shots of people waving shirts from windows to people stepping into air , a desperate effort to escape the inferno .