hell English · revision 3422

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *kel-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hel/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|helle]], [[inh|ang|hel]], [[m|ang|helle|t=the underworld, abode of the dead]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*haljō|t=the underworld]],^(Etymonline) literally “concealed place”, from the Germanic base meaning “to cover, conceal”, as in Old English [[m|ang|helan]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Its cognates include [[ofs|helle]], [[osx|hellia]], [[nl|hel]], [[de|Hölle]] and [[non|hel]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) and Gothic has halja.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Watkins traces it to [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=to cover, conceal]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the root also of Latin [[m|la|cēlāre|t=to hide]], the source of [[conceal]], and of [[hall]], [[helmet]] and [[hole]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Klein 1966) Barnhart suggests that Old Norse Hel, the goddess of death, may have reinforced the English word, as a pagan concept transferred to Christian theology.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The nether world of the dead: Old English ''hel'', about 725,^(Barnhart 1988) and in Christian use about 825.^(OED 1989) The place of torment for the damned is from about 888.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary explains that, because the Roman Church prevailed in England from early on, the Mediterranean belief that hell was hot prevailed too: Old English ''hel'' is black and fiery.^(AHD 2000) In Middle English it also meant the limbo where the patriarchs awaited the Atonement.^(Etymonline) The King James Version uses it for Hebrew [[m|hbo|שְׁאוֹל|tr=šəʾōl]] and Greek [[m|grc|ᾅδης|tr=Háidēs]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A state of misery is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and an exclamation of anger from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) ''All hell breaks loose'' is from about 1600, ''hell or high water'' from 1874, and ''hell in a handbasket'' by 1867.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''hel''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 888 – a place of torment.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1374 – a state of misery.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1600 – ''hell breaks loose''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – an exclamation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1874 – ''hell or high water''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # In some religions, the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The abode of the dead; the [[underworld]], identified with [[Sheol]] and [[Hades]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A situation or place of great suffering or misery.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(informal)'' Used as an intensive: ''a hell of a mess''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to express anger, disgust or impatience.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(slang)'' To behave riotously.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hell-like]]

+ * [[hell's bells]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hall]]

+ * [[hole]]

+ * [[hull]]

+ * [[helmet]]

+ * [[conceal]]

+ * [[occult]]

+ * [[heel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate northern dialect verb ''hell'', “to pour”, is recorded from before 1340.^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}