Hades

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The mythological figure representing the underworld in ancient Greek culture, the domain of deceased souls governed by this deity, and a literary term denoting a bleak or dismal environment
2. In Greek mythology, this character embodies the afterlife, overseeing a realm for the departed, while also serving as a metaphor for oppressive darkness or sorrow in literature
3. A deity ruling the realm of the deceased in Greek myth ; the subterranean domain where souls reside after death ; a metaphorical place symbolizing darkness or despair

Etymology: The name Hades belongs to the Greek god of the underworld, but in English its plural form is the more interesting word. "Hades" is the plural of "hade", a rare English noun meaning a rank, condition or quality of a person, close kin to the suffix "-hood". The word may come from a dialect form of "head", possibly through the medieval surnames "atte Haden" and "atte Haveden", which suggests a person living by a hedge or a head of land. Hades, the god, gave English speakers a convenient word for the underworld because the Greek name was itself adopted into English. Because "hade" is so obscure, most readers meet the plural first as a proper name, and the common noun has all but disappeared from everyday use.

Synonyms: underworld, hell