Infernal
/ɪnˈfɜːrnəl/noun
Relating to hell or the underworld; extremely bad or annoying.
Did you know?The word entered English through Latin and French as a learned, literary term for things belonging to the underworld, not just general “evil,” which is why it still carries that cold, archaic, hellfire feel.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“to carry, bear”
Latin
Latin
inferus
“lower, below; the lower world”
Late Latin
Latin
infernalis
“of the lower regions; of the underworld”
Old French
Old French
infernal
“hellish, belonging to hell”
Middle English
English
infernall
“pertaining to hell or the devil”
Modern English
English
infernal
“relating to hell; extremely troublesome or annoying”
Explore more surprising origins