Niflheim

American  

[niv-uhl-heym] / ˈnɪv əlˌheɪm /

noun

Scandinavian Mythology.

1. a place of eternal cold, darkness, and fog, ruled over by Hel: abode of those who die of illness or old age.

---

Niflheim British  

/ ˈnɪvəlˌheɪm /

noun

1. Norse myth the abode of the dead

---

Etymology

Origin of Niflheim

< Old Norse Niflheimr, equivalent to nifl- (cognate with Old English nifol darkness, Old High German nebal mist, cloud, Latin nebula ( nebula )) + heimr world, home

Example Sentences

When the crew of the colonization mission discover that their new home, an ice planet called Niflheim, is inhabited by armadillo-like crawler creatures, they wonder what to do about this unanticipated roadblock in their efforts.

From Salon

Need someone to take the first steps on Niflheim to inhale the planet’s toxic air so the lab can concoct a vaccine?

From Salon

As frigid as it is, Niflheim doesn’t seem any worse than the pounding dust storms at home.

From Los Angeles Times

Odin gave him his horse Sleipnir and he sped down to Niflheim.

From Literature

He rode down to Niflheim, the world of the dead, where he found the dwelling of Hela, or Hel, the Goddess of the Dead, all decked out in festal array.

From Literature