hell

[[t]hɛl[/t]]

n.

1) rel the place or state of punishment of the wicked after death; the abode of evil and condemned spirits

2) any place or state of torment or misery:

to make someone's life hell[/ex]

3) cvb something that causes torment or misery

4) the powers of evil

5) the abode of the dead; Sheol or Hades

6) cvb extreme disorder or confusion; chaos:

All hell broke loose[/ex]

7) a severe scolding or punishment:

to catch hell; to give someone hell[/ex]

8) (used in swearing, as an expression of anger, dismissal, disgust, etc., or as an intensive):

the hell with it; guilty as hell; a hell of a nice guy; Where the hell were you?[/ex]

9) pri a box into which a printer throws discarded type

10) (used to express irritation, disgust, surprise, etc.)

11) phv sts hell around, Slang. to live or act in a wild or dissolute manner

•

- be hell on for the hell of it hell on wheels hell to pay like hell play hell with raise hell till hell freezes over

Etymology: bef. 900; ME, OE hel(l), c. OHG hell(i)a, ON hel, Go halja; akin to OE helan to cover, hide, and to hull II