hellish, a. (adv.)
(ˈhɛlɪʃ)
[f. hell n. + -ish.]
1. Of, belonging or pertaining to hell or the infernal regions; infernal.
| 1530 Palsgr. 315/1 Hellysshe, belongyng to helle, tartaricque, infernal. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ii. 2 Who, all in rage..gan threaten hellish paine. 1687 Death's Vis. Pref. (1713) 11 The Fury and Hideousness of that Hellish Prince. 1727 De Foe Syst. Magic i. ii. (1840) 48 The last is truly called diabolical and hellish magic. |
b. Belonging to Hades.
| 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Oct. 30 His musicks might the hellish hound did tame. a 1704 T. Brown Praise Drunkenness Wks. 1730 I. 37 In vain does Hercules boast of all his victories, of his Hydra..and the hellish Cerberus. |
2. Of the nature or character of hell and infernal things; befitting or worthy of hell; diabolical, fiendish.
| 1569 Commem. Boner in Skelton's Wks. (1843) I. Introd. 125 Romishe derision, And hellishe deuision. 1604 Shakes. Oth. v. ii. 368 To you, Lord Gouernor, Remaines the Censure of this hellish villaine. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 402 ¶3, I sit down and describe my present Disposition with so hellish an Aspect. 1798 Coleridge Anc. Mar. ii. iii, I had done a hellish thing, And it would work 'em woe. 1826 Scott Woodst. xii, But we heard hellish noises. |
b. As an intensive: cf. infernal, devilish.
| 1798 Courier in Spirit. Pub. Jrnls. (1799) II. 307 Why did you ride at such a hellish rate? |
B. adv. Infernally; execrably. Sometimes a mere coarse intensive: cf. devilish.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 481 A mouth O hellish wide. 1768 Foote Devil on Two Sticks i. Wks. 1799 II. 251 You make a little free with our condition..as, hellish dull, damn'd clever, hellish cold. 1792 C. Smith Desmond II. 37 You've got a hellish clever trotting mare. |