[hell] n [ME, fr. OE; akin to OE helan to conceal, OHG helan, L celare, Gk kalyptein] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): a nether world in which the dead continue to exist: hades (2): the nether realm of the devil and the demons in which the damned suffer everlasting punishment--often used in curses "go to ~" or as a generalized term of abuse "the ~ with it" b Christian Science: error 2b, sin
2. a: a place or state of misery, torment, or wickedness "war is ~ --W. T. Sherman" b: a place or state of turmoil or destruction "all ~ broke loose" c: a severe scolding "got ~ for coming in late" d: unrestrained fun or sportiveness "the kids were full of ~"--often used in the phrase for the hell of it esp. to suggest action on impulse or without a serious motive "decided to go for the ~ of it" 3 archaic: a tailor's receptacle 4--used as an interjection "~, I don't know]" or as an intensive "hurts like ~" "funny as ~"--often used in the phrase hell of a "it was one ~ of a good fight" or hell out of "scared the ~ out of him" or with the or in "moved way the ~ up north" "what in ~ is wrong, now?" -- hell on : very hard on or destructive to "the constant traveling is hell on your digestive system" -- hell or high water : difficulties of whatever kind or size "will stand by her convictions come hell or high water" -- hell to pay : dire consequences "if he's late there'll be hell to pay"