hellfire

== English == === Alternative forms === hell-fire === 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”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈhɛlˌfaɪə/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈhɛlˌfaɪəɹ/ === Noun === hellfire (countable and uncountable, plural hellfires) (uncountable) The fire of Hell. (uncountable) Fire produced by the Devil, or a similar supernatural creature connected to Hell. (countable) A fire that burns with unusual heat or ferocity. (countable, military) Ellipsis of AGM-114 Hellfire. ==== Alternative forms ==== sometimes capitalized, hyphenated, or both: Hellfire, hell-fire, Hell-fire; also as fires of hell ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === hellfire (comparative more hellfire, superlative most hellfire) Of or relating to a violent, apocalyptic and ultimate day of reckoning and judgment; usually characterizing a form of Christian preaching. ==== See also ==== fire and brimstone inferno purgatory === Interjection === hellfire hell; damn; blast