hell
UK: hɛl | US: hɛl
n. 1. (theology) A place of eternal punishment or suffering in the afterlife, often associated with evil or damnation.
n. 2. A state of extreme distress, misery, or chaos ("war is hell").
n. 3. (informal) An expression of anger or frustration ("Oh hell!").
The word "hell" traces back to Old English hel, derived from Proto-Germanic haljō, meaning "the underworld" or "concealed place." It shares roots with Old Norse Hel (the goddess of the underworld) and Gothic halja. The concept evolved from a neutral term for the afterlife to a specifically punitive realm under Christian influence, aligning with Latin infernum and Greek Hades. The word's simplicity and ancient Germanic origins make it non-splittable under the morpheme integrity rule.
Many religions describe hell as a place of eternal fire.
Surviving the earthquake was pure hell.
"Hell no!" he shouted in refusal.
The battlefield turned into a living hell.
She joked that her office was hotter than hell.