Averno

American  

[uh-vur-noh, ah-ver-naw] / əˈvɜr noʊ, ɑˈvɛr nɔ /

noun

1. a crater lake in S Italy, near Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea, thought by ancients to be the entrance to the underworld.

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Averno British  

/ aˈvɛrno /

noun

1. Latin name: Avernus.  a crater lake in Italy, near Naples: in ancient times regarded as an entrance to hell

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Etymology

Origin of Averno

from Latin, from Greek aornos without birds, from _a- ¹ + ornis bird; referring to the legend that the lake's sulphurous exhalations killed birds

Example Sentences

Paul Daniel conducts the initial performances, with Barbara Hannigan and Kerstin Averno sharing the title role.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2012

As we all know, facilis descensus Averno est, and any man with natural greed in his veins is subject to temptation.

From The Cottage of Delight A Novel by Harben, Will N. (William Nathaniel)

Tuesday the 17th the Committee had arranged an excursion to Lake Averno, the Temple of Serapis, and other places famous in a geological and historical respect, situated to the north-west of Naples.

From The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, Volume I and Volume II by Leslie, Alexander, fl. 1879-1882

These words undoubtedly indicate the accomplishment of the "facilis descensus Averno" by the native deities.

From Elizabethan Demonology by Spalding, Thomas Alfred

I think it was Virgil who said Facilis descensus Averno, and I suppose Mr. Henderson, in his statement, is trying to save me from the inconveniences of this trip.

From Reveries of a Schoolmaster by Pearson, Francis B.