inferno

[in-fur-noh, een-fer-naw]

noun

plural

infernos 

1. hell; the infernal regions.

2. a place or region that resembles hell.

   The ironworks was an inferno of molten steel and half-naked bodies.

   Synonyms: oven, hellhole, furnace

3. (initial capital letter, italics),  the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy, depicting hell and the suffering of the damned.

inferno

/ ɪnˈfɜːnəʊ /

noun

1. (sometimes capital) hell; the infernal region

2. any place or state resembling hell, esp a conflagration

Inferno

1. The first section of The Divine Comedy, by Dante. Inferno is the Italian word for “hell.”

By extension, an “inferno” is a hot and terrible place or condition.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inferno¹

1825–35; < Italian < Late Latin infernus hell, noun use of Latin infernus; infernal

Word History and Origins

Origin of inferno¹

C19: from Italian, from Late Latin infernus hell

Example Sentences

They were filled with workers who had sought sanctuary from the inferno.

From BBC

The Palisades and Eaton fires in January were infernos of biblical dimensions.

From Los Angeles Times

The inferno roared through Altadena, killing 19 people and destroying 9,400 homes and other structures.

From Los Angeles Times

The teacher, responsible for children in Classes 3 to 5, helped at least 20 students flee the inferno.

From BBC

The lawsuit also cites reporting from The Times that found the utility’s Santa Ynez Reservoir, located in the Palisades, was empty during the inferno, having been closed months earlier for repairs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• purgatory