"Hades," the abode of the dead, from the verb a-cido, not to see. In both cases it means "the unseen
world" or "the world concealed from sight." The god of this nether world was called "Hades" by the Greeks,
and "Hel" or "Hela" by the Scandinavians. In some counties of England to cover in with a roof is "to hell
the building," and thatchers or tilers are termed "helliers."
Lead apes in hell. (See Ape.)
Hell (Rivers of). Classic authors tell us that the Inferno is encompassed by five rivers: Acheron, Cocytus,
Styx, Phlegethon, and Lethe. Acheron from the Greek achos-reo, grief-flowing; Cocytus, from the Greek
kokuo, to weep, supposed to be a flood of tears; Styx, from the Greek stugeo, to loathe; Phlegethon,
from the Greek phlgeo to burn; and Lethê, from the Greek lethe, oblivion.
Five hateful rivers round Inferno
run, Grief comes the first, and then the Flood of tears, Next loathsome Styx, then liquid Flame appears,
Lethe comes last, or blank oblivion. E. C. B.
Hell Broth A magical mixture prepared for evil purposes. The witches in Macbeth made it. (See act iv. 1.)