Avernus

Meaning

Proper Noun

• The entrance to Hell or the underworld, or the underworld itself.
• A lake in Southern Italy.

Origin

• Latin Avernus, from Ancient Greek ἄορνος, ἄϝορνος, from ἀ- + ὄρνις. The lack of birds was likely due to fatal gases like carbon dioxide seeping from the volcanically active lake.