infernal
Definitions
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WordNet 3.6
- adj infernal expletives used informally as intensifiers "he's a blasted idiot","it's a blamed shame","a blame cold winter","not a blessed dime","I'll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I'll do any such thing","he's a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool","a deuced idiot","an infernal nuisance"
- adj infernal extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell "something demonic in him--something that could be cruel","fires lit up a diabolic scene","diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils","a fiendish despot","hellish torture","infernal instruments of war","satanic cruelty","unholy grimaces"
- adj infernal being of the underworld "infernal regions"
- adj infernal characteristic of or resembling Hell "infernal noise","infernal punishment"
- adj infernal of or pertaining to or characteristic of a very uncontrolled and intense fire "infernal heat"
- n infernal an inhabitant of Hell "his roar made the infernals quake"
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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- n Infernal An inhabitant of the infernal regions; also, the place itself.
- Infernal Of or pertaining to or suitable for the lower regions, inhabited, according to the ancients, by the dead; pertaining to Pluto's realm of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients. "The Elysian fields, the infernal monarchy."
- Infernal Of or pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting, hell; suitable for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct. "The instruments or abettors in such infernal dealings."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
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- infernal Pertaining to the lower regions, or regions of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients.
- infernal Pertaining to or resembling hell; inhabiting hell; suitable or appropriate to hell or its inhabitants; hellish; fiendish; diabolical: as, infernal cruelty.
- infernal Devilish, satanic, fiendlike, nefarious.
- n infernal An inhabitant of hell or of the lower regions.
- n infernal A person or thing of an infernal character in any sense, or of supposed infernal appearance: specifically applied to a fire-ship, torpedo, infernal machine, or the like.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
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- adj Infernal in-fėr′nal belonging to the lower regions: resembling or suitable to hell, devilish: outrageous
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Quotations
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“There is nothing funny about Halloween. This sarcastic festival reflects, rather, an infernal demand for revenge by children on the adult world.” -
“The fickleness of the women I love is only equaled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.” -
“Nothing can throw thee into the infernal abyss so much as this detested word -- heed well! -- this mine and thine.”
Etymology
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
F. infernal, L. infernalis, fr. infernus, that which lies beneath, the lower. See Inferior
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
Fr.,—L. infernus—inferus.
Usage
In literature:
Here we are now, a devilish sight too near this infernal point.
"Great Sea Stories" by Various
But then those infernal boys!
"A Crooked Path" by Mrs. Alexander
We have done with this infernal category of sin and filth.
"Explanation of Catholic Morals" by John H. Stapleton
And those infernal-sounding words!
"The Place Beyond the Winds" by Harriet T. Comstock
Whatever his sins, he must have suffered infernally during the past twelve years.
"The Swindler and Other Stories" by Ethel M. Dell
You infernal niggers are getting to be so no-account that the last one of you ought to be driven off the place.
"An Arkansas Planter" by Opie Percival Read
He had picked up the card again and was ordering some infernal broth made of mussels and I-don't-know-what.
"Foe-Farrell" by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
We've been so infernally confident that we only had to find a clump of wattle and a lone tree, and we were there.
"The Lost Valley" by J. M. Walsh
Why is it the most infernal?
"Henrietta Temple A Love Story" by Benjamin Disraeli
As a corpse was being carried out to be interred, the deceased was commended to the protection of the infernal gods.
"The Mysteries of All Nations" by James Grant
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In poetry:
Yet louder the thunder of battle roared,
Yet a dealier fire on the columns poured;
Slaughter infernal rode with Despair,
Furies twain, through the murky air.
Yet a dealier fire on the columns poured;
Slaughter infernal rode with Despair,
Furies twain, through the murky air.
"Lee To The Rear" by John Reuben Thompson
In vain, with rude and overwhelming force,
Conscience repeats her tale of misery;
And powers infernal, wakeful to destroy,
Urge the worn spirit to despair and die.
Conscience repeats her tale of misery;
And powers infernal, wakeful to destroy,
Urge the worn spirit to despair and die.
"Faith" by Caroline Fry
Whilst his relations and his children live
In luxury, and quaff the richest wine,
He, in th' infernal prisons pent, shall grieve,
And for a single drop of water pine.
In luxury, and quaff the richest wine,
He, in th' infernal prisons pent, shall grieve,
And for a single drop of water pine.
"Advice To Distribute To The Poor, According To Every One's Circumstances And Abilities" by Rees Prichard
A. First, I observe, that I renounce entire
The wily fiend, and his infernal deeds,
This wicked world, with ev'ry vain desire,
And sinful lust, that from the flesh proceeds.
The wily fiend, and his infernal deeds,
This wicked world, with ev'ry vain desire,
And sinful lust, that from the flesh proceeds.
"The Catechism " by Rees Prichard
Tarpalce. Of the infernal palace
To bend before the prince,
Forth from a thousand subterraneous paths The great Tarpalce, chief of earthly sprites,
Raises his brow to heaven.
To bend before the prince,
Forth from a thousand subterraneous paths The great Tarpalce, chief of earthly sprites,
Raises his brow to heaven.
"Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 4." by William Cowper
There is no need, for any one to pray,
For him, that is allow'd in heav'n to stay,
Or shou'd he make the infernal lake his home,
He ne'er shall have permission thence to come.
For him, that is allow'd in heav'n to stay,
Or shou'd he make the infernal lake his home,
He ne'er shall have permission thence to come.
"That It Is In Vain To Pray For The Dead" by Rees Prichard
In news:
As in all Infernal Bridegroom 's performances, a band made up of local rock musicians provides accompaniment, and the actors are mostly company members.
David Mamet 's Edmond, by Infernal Bridegroom Productions.
PHILADELPHIA — The infernal fire that has blazed beneath cynical detective John Constantine for years is being extinguished.
Will Nothing Stop That Infernal Itch.
Infernal Bridegroom Has a Hit With 'Speeding Motorcycle'.
A scene from the Infernal Bridegroom production "Speeding Motorcycle," featuring songs by Daniel Johnston.
After a few years of peace and quiet, my home phone is suddenly jangling again with infernal telemarketing calls.
Medea by Infernal Bridegroom Productions.
Before the back- scratcher , before that simple, infernal device, we, like all our primate kin, depended on others to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.
As they (sort of) used to say on that infernal television machine: We now take you back to our regularly scheduled confusion, already in progress.
The movie was based on the Hong Kong thriller "Infernal Affairs.".
"Infernal Affairs/ The Departed ".
" The Departed ," Martin Scorsese's remake of the Hong Kong hit "Infernal Affairs," is one of Larry Ratliff's big pictures for fall.
Why, then, is it that I cannot understand how to fold their infernal road maps.
Actors hope Hong Kong police thriller ' Cold War ' re-creates 'Infernal Affairs' success.
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In science:
However it clearly shows a somewhat infernal flavour the supertasks have.
Zeno meets modern science
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