Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Religion) The world of the dead; the abode of the dead in various religious traditions. It is a place where souls are believed to go after death.
   • (Christianity) The abode of Satan and the forces of evil; a place of eternal punishment for sinners. It is often depicted as a place of fire and torment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ancient myths often describe heroes journeying to the infernal region to retrieve a lost soul.
  • The preacher warned that unrepentant sinners would be condemned to the infernal region.
  • "No one goes to Hades with all his immense wealth," illustrating the futility of worldly riches in the infernal region.

Advanced Usage

• Literary and Theological Context: The term is used in theological discourse, epic poetry, and literature to evoke a place of divine punishment or the afterlife.
  • In Milton's "Paradise Lost," the infernal region is vividly described as a dungeon of fiery despair.

Variants and Related Words

• Hell (n): The most common synonym, especially in Christian contexts.
• Hades (n): The ancient Greek name for the underworld or abode of the dead.
• Perdition (n): (Often in Christian theology) A state of eternal punishment and damnation; hell.
  • "Hurl'd headlong...To bottomless perdition, there to dwell."
• The Pit (n): A term for hell, emphasizing its depth and darkness.
  • A demon from the depths of the pit.
• Netherworld (n): The underworld; the world of the dead.

Synonyms

• Underworld
• Abyss
• Gehenna (a term for hell derived from a valley near Jerusalem)
• Inferno (a large fire, or a term for hell emphasizing fire)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Hell is paved with good intentions.": A proverb meaning that well-meant plans or promises often come to nothing or lead to bad outcomes.
  • As Dr. Johnson observed, "Hell is paved with good intentions."

Noun

1. (religion) the world of the dead
   • No one goes to Hades with all his immense wealth-Theognis
2. (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment
   • Hurl'd headlong...To bottomless perdition, there to dwell- John Milton
   • a demon from the depths of the pit
   • Hell is paved with good intentions-Dr. Johnson