avernal

adjective

aver·​nal

əˈvərnᵊl

variants or avernian

-nēən,

-nyən

sometimes capitalized

: infernal

Word History

Etymology

avernal from Latin Avernalis of Avernus, from Avernus, lake near Pozzuoli, Italy (now Lago Averno), reputed because of its depth and stench to lead to the underworld, underworld + Latin -alis -al; avernian from Avernus + English -ian

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