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Averʹnus (Greek, a-ornis, “without a bird”)

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A lake in Campaʹnia, so called from the belief that its sulphurous and mephitic vapours killed any bird that happened to inhale them. Poets call it the entrance to the infernal regions; hence the proverb, The descent to Avernus is easy, but coming back again is quite another matter, meaning that all bad habits are easily acquired, but very hard to be abandoned.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Autumn
Ava
Avalanche
Avalon
Avant Courier. (French, avant courrier.)
Avant Garde. (French.)
Avatar
Ave Maria [Hail, Mary!] (Ave, 2 syl.)
Avenel
Avenger of Blood (The)
Avernus (Greek, a-ornis, “without a bird”)
Avertin (St.)
Avesta
Aveugle
Avienus
A vinculo matrimonii (Latin)
Aviz
Avoid Etxremes
Avoir
Avoirdupois
A-weather

See Also:

Avernus