Acheron

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

Ăchĕron, ntis (collat. form Acheros, Liv. 8, 24, 11; the form Acheruns, untis, see below), m., = Ἀχέρων (interpr. ὁ ἄχεα ῥέων, the stream of woe).

I A river in Epirus , which flows through the Lake Acherusia into the Ambracian Gulf , now Suli , Liv. 8, 24, 3; Plin. 4, 1, 1, § 4.—

II A fabulous river in the Lower World : illi qui fluere apud inferos dicuntur, Acheron, Cocytus, Styx, etc., Cic. N. D. 3, 17: via Tartarei quae fert Acherontis ad undas, Verg. A., 6, 295 al.—Hence,

B The Lower World itself : Acherontem obibo, ubi mortis thesauri objacent, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 201 Müll. (Trag. v. 278 ed. Vahl.): flectere si nequeo Superos, Acheronta movebo, Verg. A. 7, 312: perrupit Acheronta Herculeus labor, Hor. C. 1, 3, 36. In prose: ut eum suo sanguine ab Acheronte, si possent, cuperent redimere, Nep. Dion. 10, 2.

IV —Hence, Ăchĕrontēus , a, um, adj., pertaining to the Acheron , Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 351.

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