English Explanatory Dictionary

hellfire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The fire of Hell.
  2. Fire produced by the Devil, or a similar supernatural creature connected to Hell.
  3. A fire that burns with unusual heat or ferocity.
  4. Ellipsis of AGM-114 Hellfire.
adj
  1. Of or relating to a violent, apocalyptic and ultimate day of reckoning and judgment; usually characterizing a form of Christian preaching.
intj
  1. hell; damn; blast

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛlˌfaɪə/ /ˈhɛlˌfaɪəɹ/

Word forms

hellfire hellfires hell-fire fires hell more hellfire most hellfire

Etymology

From Middle English helle fire, helever, from Old English hellefȳr, equivalent to hell + fire. Cognate with West Frisian helfjoer (“hellfire”), Dutch hellevuur (“hellfire”), German Höllenfeuer (“hellfire”).

Related words

fire and brimstone inferno purgatory

Derived words

heckfire
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