hell
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English helle, from Old English hell, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“concealed place, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, conceal, save”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Low German Hell (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Norwegian helvete (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“the abode of the dead, death”). Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.
Proper noun[edit]
hell
- In various religions, a place of torment where some or all evil spirits are believed to go after death.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Proverbs 23:14:
- Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
- 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 228728136, Act III, page 39:
- Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, / Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman ſcorn'd.
- (in many religions, uncountable) The place where sinners suffer after death.
- May you rot in hell!
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:
- Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
- 1916, James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man:
- Hell is a strait and dark and foul-smelling prison, an abode of demons and lost souls, filled with fire and smoke.
Synonyms[edit]
Antonyms[edit]
- (in many religions, uncountable): heaven
Translations[edit]
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Noun[edit]
hell (countable and uncountable, plural hells)
- (countable, hyperbolic, figuratively) A place or situation of great suffering in life.
- My new boss is making my job a hell.
- I went through hell to get home today.
- 1879, General William T. Sherman, commencement address at the Michigan Military Academy
- There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.
- 1986, Metallica (music), “Disposable Heroes”, in Master of Puppets:
- Why, am I dying? / Kill, have no fear / Lie, live off lying / Hell, hell is here
- (countable) A place for gambling.
- 1848-50, William Makepeace Thackeray, Pendennis, ch 61:
- Here’s five-and-twenty for you. Don’t be losing it at the hells now.
- 1877, William Black, Green Pastures and Piccadilly
- a convenient little gambling hell for those who had grown reckless
- 1906 January–October, Joseph Conrad, chapter II, in The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale, London: Methuen & Co., […], published 1907, OCLC 270548466; The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Collection of British Authors; 3995), copyright edition, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1907, OCLC 1107573959, page 15:
- But there was also about him an indescribable air which no mechanic could have acquired in the practice of his handicraft however dishonestly exercised: [...] the air of moral nihilism common to keepers of gambling hells and disorderly houses; [...]
- 1848-50, William Makepeace Thackeray, Pendennis, ch 61:
- (figuratively) An extremely hot place.
- You don’t have a snowball's chance in hell.
- (sometimes considered vulgar) Used as an intensifier in phrases grammatically requiring a noun.
- I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more.
- What the hell is wrong with you?!
- He says he’s going home early? Like hell he is.
- (obsolete) A place into which a tailor throws shreds, or a printer discards broken type.
- 1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, OCLC 963614346:
- This sturdy Squire, he had, as well
As the bold Trojan Knight, seen Hell.
Derived terms[edit]
- as hell
- catch hell
- dependency hell
- forty minutes of hell
- go to hell
- hella
- hellagood
- hell and half of Georgia
- hellbender
- hell-bent
- hellburner
- hellcat
- hell-fire
- hell for leather
- hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
- hellish
- hell of a
- hell on earth
- hell on wheels
- hellraiser
- hell's delight
- hellspawn
- hell to pay
- hell week
- like hell
- living hell
- no screaming hell
- the hell
- the hell out of
- the hell with it
- the hell you say
- to hell with
- what the hell
Translations[edit]
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Interjection[edit]
hell
- (impolite, sometimes considered vulgar) Used to express discontent, unhappiness, or anger.
- Oh, hell! I got another parking ticket.
- c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene vii]:
- O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! […]
- (impolite, sometimes considered vulgar) Used to emphasize.
- Hell, yeah!
- (impolite, sometimes considered vulgar) Used to introduce an intensified statement following an understated one; nay; not only that, but.
- [Do it, or, r]est assured, there will be no more Middle Eastern crisis – hell, there will be no more Middle East!
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
See also[edit]
Adverb[edit]
hell (not comparable)
- (postpositional) Alternative form of the hell or like hell.
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 35:
- ‘I know whether a boy is telling me the truth or not.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Did he hell. They never bloody did.
- ‘I know whether a boy is telling me the truth or not.’
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 35:
Etymology 2[edit]
From German hellen (“to brighten, burnish”). Related to Dutch hel (“clear, bright”) and German hell (“clear, bright”).
Verb[edit]
hell (third-person singular simple present hells, present participle helling, simple past and past participle helled)
- (rare, metal-working) To add luster to, burnish (silver or gold).
- 1770, Godfrey Smith, The Laboratory: Or, School of Arts
- To hell gold or gilt workː take two ounces of tartar, two ounces of sulfur.. and it will give it a fine luster.
- 1770, Godfrey Smith, The Laboratory: Or, School of Arts
References[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
From Old Norse hella (“to pour”). Cognate with Icelandic hella (“to pour”), Norwegian helle (“to pour”), Swedish hälla (“to pour”). See also hield.
Verb[edit]
hell (third-person singular simple present hells, present participle helling, simple past and past participle helled)
- (rare) To pour.
- 18th century, unknown author, The Harvest or Bashful Shepherd
- Gosh, the sickle went into me handː Down hell'd the bluid.
- 18th century, unknown author, The Harvest or Bashful Shepherd
References[edit]
Albanian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Proto-Albanian *skōla, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kol- (“stake”); compare Lithuanian kuõlas, Polish kół, Ancient Greek σκύλος (skúlos).
Noun[edit]
hell m (indefinite plural heje, definite singular helli, definite plural hejet)
Cornish[edit]
Noun[edit]
hell
- Aspirate mutation of kell.
Estonian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Proto-Finnic *hellä. Cognate to Finnish hellä and Votic ellä.
Adjective[edit]
hell (genitive hella, partitive hella)
Declension[edit]
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | hell | hellad |
genitive | hella | hellade |
partitive | hella | helli / hellasid |
illative | hella / hellasse | helladesse / hellisse |
inessive | hellas | hellades / hellis |
elative | hellast | helladest / hellist |
allative | hellale | helladele / hellile |
adessive | hellal | helladel / hellil |
ablative | hellalt | helladelt / hellilt |
translative | hellaks | helladeks / helliks |
terminative | hellani | helladeni |
essive | hellana | helladena |
abessive | hellata | helladeta |
comitative | hellaga | helladega |
German[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle High German hel (“resounding, loud, shining, bright”), from Old High German hel (“resounding”), from Proto-Germanic *halliz (“resounding”), from Proto-Germanic *hellaną (“to resound, make a sound”), from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- (“to call, make noise”). Cognate with Dutch hel.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
hell (strong nominative masculine singular heller, comparative heller, superlative am hellsten)
- clear, bright, light
- Antonym: dunkel
- 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 9:
- So dunkel und schauerlich die Gruft aussah, wenn man durch die blinden, bestaubten Scheibchen der kleinen Fenster hineinblickte, so hell und freundlich war oben die Kirche.
- Just as dark and eerie the crypt looked like, if one looked in it through the cloudy, dusted little panes of the small windows, as bright and friendly was the church above.
Declension[edit]
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | all genders | ||
predicative | er ist hell | sie ist hell | es ist hell | sie sind hell | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | heller | helle | helles | helle |
genitive | hellen | heller | hellen | heller | |
dative | hellem | heller | hellem | hellen | |
accusative | hellen | helle | helles | helle | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der helle | die helle | das helle | die hellen |
genitive | des hellen | der hellen | des hellen | der hellen | |
dative | dem hellen | der hellen | dem hellen | den hellen | |
accusative | den hellen | die helle | das helle | die hellen | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein heller | eine helle | ein helles | (keine) hellen |
genitive | eines hellen | einer hellen | eines hellen | (keiner) hellen | |
dative | einem hellen | einer hellen | einem hellen | (keinen) hellen | |
accusative | einen hellen | eine helle | ein helles | (keine) hellen |
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | all genders | ||
predicative | er ist heller | sie ist heller | es ist heller | sie sind heller | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | hellerer | hellere | helleres | hellere |
genitive | helleren | hellerer | helleren | hellerer | |
dative | hellerem | hellerer | hellerem | helleren | |
accusative | helleren | hellere | helleres | hellere | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der hellere | die hellere | das hellere | die helleren |
genitive | des helleren | der helleren | des helleren | der helleren | |
dative | dem helleren | der helleren | dem helleren | den helleren | |
accusative | den helleren | die hellere | das hellere | die helleren | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein hellerer | eine hellere | ein helleres | (keine) helleren |
genitive | eines helleren | einer helleren | eines helleren | (keiner) helleren | |
dative | einem helleren | einer helleren | einem helleren | (keinen) helleren | |
accusative | einen helleren | eine hellere | ein helleres | (keine) helleren |
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | all genders | ||
predicative | er ist am hellsten | sie ist am hellsten | es ist am hellsten | sie sind am hellsten | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | hellster | hellste | hellstes | hellste |
genitive | hellsten | hellster | hellsten | hellster | |
dative | hellstem | hellster | hellstem | hellsten | |
accusative | hellsten | hellste | hellstes | hellste | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der hellste | die hellste | das hellste | die hellsten |
genitive | des hellsten | der hellsten | des hellsten | der hellsten | |
dative | dem hellsten | der hellsten | dem hellsten | den hellsten | |
accusative | den hellsten | die hellste | das hellste | die hellsten | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein hellster | eine hellste | ein hellstes | (keine) hellsten |
genitive | eines hellsten | einer hellsten | eines hellsten | (keiner) hellsten | |
dative | einem hellsten | einer hellsten | einem hellsten | (keinen) hellsten | |
accusative | einen hellsten | eine hellste | ein hellstes | (keine) hellsten |
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- “hell” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “hell” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “hell” in Duden online
Luxembourgish[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old High German hel, related to the verb hellan, from Proto-Germanic *hellaną (“to resound”). Cognate with German helle, Dutch hel.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
hell (masculine hellen, neuter hellt, comparative méi hell, superlative am hellsten)
Declension[edit]
number and gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | all genders | ||
predicative | hien ass hell | si ass hell | et ass hell | si si(nn) hell | |
nominative / accusative |
attributive and/or after determiner | hellen | hell | hellt | hell |
independent without determiner | helles | heller | |||
dative | after any declined word | hellen | heller | hellen | hellen |
as first declined word | hellem | hellem |
Middle English[edit]
Proper noun[edit]
hell
- Alternative form of helle
Noun[edit]
hell
- Alternative form of helle
Norwegian Bokmål[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Noun[edit]
hell n (definite singular hellet, indefinite plural hell, definite plural hella or hellene)
Etymology 2[edit]
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb[edit]
hell
- imperative of helle
Further reading[edit]
- “hell” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Ultimately from Old Norse heill.
Noun[edit]
hell n (definite singular hellet, indefinite plural hell, definite plural hella)
Further reading[edit]
- “hell” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
Old English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, hide, conceal”).
Compare German hell (“light”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
hell f
Declension[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Descendants[edit]
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛl
- Rhymes:English/ɛl/1 syllable
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱel- (cover)
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English lemmas
- English proper nouns
- English terms with quotations
- English uncountable nouns
- English terms with usage examples
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English hyperboles
- English vulgarities
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English interjections
- English adverbs
- English uncomparable adverbs
- English terms derived from German
- English verbs
- English terms with rare senses
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English intensifiers
- English swear words
- en:Afterlife
- en:Death
- Albanian terms derived from Proto-Albanian
- Albanian terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Albanian lemmas
- Albanian nouns
- Albanian masculine nouns
- Cornish non-lemma forms
- Cornish mutated nouns
- Cornish aspirate-mutation forms
- Estonian terms inherited from Proto-Finnic
- Estonian terms derived from Proto-Finnic
- Estonian lemmas
- Estonian adjectives
- Estonian külm-type nominals
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- German terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- German terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- German 1-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German lemmas
- German adjectives
- German terms with quotations
- Luxembourgish terms derived from Old High German
- Luxembourgish terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Luxembourgish 1-syllable words
- Luxembourgish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:Luxembourgish/æl
- Rhymes:Luxembourgish/æl/1 syllable
- Luxembourgish terms with homophones
- Luxembourgish lemmas
- Luxembourgish adjectives
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English proper nouns
- Middle English nouns
- Norwegian Bokmål terms derived from Old Norse
- Norwegian Bokmål lemmas
- Norwegian Bokmål nouns
- Norwegian Bokmål neuter nouns
- Norwegian Bokmål non-lemma forms
- Norwegian Bokmål verb forms
- Norwegian Nynorsk terms derived from Old Norse
- Norwegian Nynorsk lemmas
- Norwegian Nynorsk nouns
- Norwegian Nynorsk neuter nouns
- Old English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- Old English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- Old English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- Old English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Old English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Old English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old English lemmas
- Old English nouns
- Old English feminine nouns
- Old English ō-stem nouns