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Avernus

American  
[uh-vur-nuhs] / əˈvɜr nəs /

noun

  1. a lake near Naples, Italy, looked upon in ancient times as an entrance to hell, from whose waters vile-smelling vapors arose, supposedly killing birds flying over it.

  2. hell.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Avernus

< Latin < Greek áornos birdless, equivalent to a- a- 6 + órn ( is ) bird + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Trojan, Anchises’ son, the descent of Avernus is easy.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

The local associations of Mount Eryx, of the lake of Avernus, of the fountain Albunea, of the valley of Amsanctus, of the Arician grove, of the site of Ardea, are evoked with impressive effect.

From The Roman Poets of the Augustan Age: Virgil by Sellar, W. Y.

That visit to Avernus necessitates a stage setting and an interpretation which I will deliberately designate as intensive.

From My Recollections by Massenet, Jules

But here are many—active, doubtless, in very different ages—Monte Barbaro, Monte Cigliano, Monte Campana, Monte Grillo, which hems in the more recent crater of Avernus much as Somma encircles the eruptive crater of Vesuvius.

From Naples Past and Present by Norway, Arthur H.

Not to be defeated, I ordered a trusty band to search for the fugitives in those subterranean regions, but having no wish to descend to Avernus before my time, I myself remained outside.

From Jovinian A Story of the Early Days of Papal Rome by Kingston, William Henry Giles

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