Gehenna

[ gi-hen-uh ]

/ gɪˈhɛn ə /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for Gehenna on Thesaurus.com

noun

the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, where propitiatory sacrifices were made to Moloch. 2 Kings 23:10.

hell (def. 1).

any place of extreme torment or suffering.

QUIZ

TEST YOUR MERIT ON THESE NEW WORDS IN 2021

The Dictionary added new words and definition to our vast collection, and we want to see how well-versed you are in the formally recognized new lingo. Take the quiz!

Question 1 of 8

What does JEDI stand for?

justice, equity, diversity, inclusion

justice, energy, determination, instruction

joy, equality, diversity, involvement

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of Gehenna

From Late Latin, from Greek Géenna, from Hebrew Gē-Hinnōm “hell,” short for gē ben Hinnōm, literally, “valley of the son of Hinnom”

Words nearby Gehenna

geezah, geezer, gefilte fish, gegenschein, geggie, Gehenna, gehlenite, Gehrig, Gehrig, Lou, Gehry, Geiger

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use Gehenna in a sentence

The hose shot forth a flash like a diamond; the water-spirit fell into the glowing Gehenna.
Black Diamonds|Mr Jkai
Follow me not; for, as the Most High rules, you shall curse disobedience in the quenchless Gehenna!
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
Dow overheard the remark, and rising, preached to his hearers such a sermon on Gehenna that they never forgot it, or him.
Ocean to Ocean on Horseback|Willard Glazier
Row—row, you blue-faced sons of Gehenna, or she'll eat all four of you!
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day

The leader of one line was Gehenna, and the next two ships astern of her were Eblis and Shaitan, in the order given.
Sea Warfare|Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for Gehenna

Gehenna

/ (ɡɪˈhɛnə) /

noun

Old Testament the valley below Jerusalem, where children were sacrificed and where idolatry was practised (II Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 19:6) and where later offal and refuse were slowly burned

New Testament Judaism a place where the wicked are punished after death

a place or state of pain and torment

Word Origin for Gehenna

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek Geena, from Hebrew Gê' Hinnōm, literally: valley of Hinnom, symbolic of hell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012