Definition of facilis descensus Averni in English:
facilis descensus Averni
noun
(also facilis descensus Averno)
‘The descent into Avernus is easy’: easy is the descent into hell. Chiefly figurative: it is easy to slip into evil or immoral ways.
Avernus was the name of a deep lake near Puteoli, the reputed entrance to the underworld.
Pronunciation
facilis descensus Averni
/ˈfasɪlɪs dɛˈsɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ/ /ˈfakɪlɪs dɛˈskɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ/Origin
Mid 16th century. From classical Latin facilis dēscensus Avernī (Virgil Aeneid 6. 126, in some manuscripts; the preferred reading is Avernō), lit. the descent of (or to) Avernus (is) easy from facilis + dēscensus + Avernī (or Avernō), genitive (or dative) of Avernus.
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