- Hell
- Hell Hell, n. [AS. hell; akin to D. hel, OHG. hella, G.
h["o]lle, Icel. hal, Sw. helfvete, Dan. helvede, Goth. halja,
and to AS. helan to conceal. ???. Cf. {Hele}, v. t.,
{Conceal}, {Cell}, {Helmet}, {Hole}, {Occult}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the grave;
-- called in Hebrew sheol, and by the Greeks hades.
[1913 Webster]
He descended into hell. --Book of Common Prayer. [1913 Webster]
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell. --Ps. xvi. 10. [1913 Webster]
2. The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death; the abode of evil spirits. Hence, any mental torment; anguish. ``Within him hell.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]
It is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. A place where outcast persons or things are gathered; as: (a) A dungeon or prison; also, in certain running games, a place to which those who are caught are carried for detention. (b) A gambling house. ``A convenient little gambling hell for those who had grown reckless.'' --W. Black. (c) A place into which a tailor throws his shreds, or a printer his broken type. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster]
{Gates of hell}. (Script.) See {Gate}, n., 4. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
