‖ Tartarus, n.
(ˈtɑːtərəs)
[L. Tartarus, a. Gr. τάρταρος.]
The infernal regions of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, or the lowest part of them; hence sometimes used for hell.
| [1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 552 Spynk, sink with stynk ad Tertara Termagorum.] 1586 E. Hoby tr. Cognet's Pol. Disc. Truth xxxi. 146 The strange kinde of punishmentes..prepared for the wicked in the gayle of vengeance, which he calleth Tartarus, a place of darkenesse and torments. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxviii. (1839) 445 For example, that they [the damned] are in Inferno, in Tartarus, or in the bottomless pit. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iv. 60 Condemned unto the Tartara's of Hell. a 1774 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 321 The enjoyments of Elysium and punishments of Tartarus. 1895 Salmond Chr. Doctr. Immort. i. vii. 146 The incurably corrupt are hurled into Tartarus. |
b. A place likened to Tartarus, in situation or character.
| 1821 De Quincey Confess. i. (1822) 42 She never emerged from the dismal Tartarus of the kitchens, &c. to the upper air. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxi. 271 The temperature and foulness of air in the between-deck Tartarus can not be amended. 1887–8 tr. Hugo's Notre-Dame viii. ii, This Tartarus was called simply The Question Chamber. |
Hence ˈTartarus v. trans. nonce-wd., to consign to Tartarus (repr. Gr. ταρταροῦν, 2 Pet. ii. 4).
| 1856 S. R. Maitland False Worship 31 The apostle's statement respecting the sinning Angels is, that, having been tartarus'd,..they have been reserved unto Judgment. |