a. Obs. [ad. L. vorāginōs-us, f. vorāgin-, vorāgo VORAGO. Cf. obs. F. voragineux, It., Sp., Pg. voraginoso.]
1. Of or belonging to an abyss or whirlpool; resembling a chasm or gulf.
1624. T. Scott, Belg. Souldier, 8. More dangerous then the gaping and voraginous caue, wherein Curtius leapt.
1654. Cokaine, Dianea, III. 233. A voraginous place, about the banks of which those men appeare that have perished by a violent death.
1675. E. W[ilson], Spadacr. Dunelm., 23. The bottom of the Sea … is perforated with sundry voraginous inlets and patent mouths.
1747. Mallet, Amyntor & Theod., I. 219. His secret seat,… deep amidst A cavern’s jaws voraginous and vast.
b. transf. and fig.
1624. Gag for Pope, 15. The Countrey villages know not what a Sermon meaneth, onely Masse and Mattens, with some voraginous deliuery of wonders.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. III. II. xlviii. For course of time voraginous With rapid force is violently just.
2. Having the receptive or swallowing power of a gulf or abyss; devouring, voracious.
1653. A. Wilson, Jas. I., 165. This Voraginous appetite gaped after the possession of the Countrie.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 85. How it doth grieve me … that we think to get our admission under God with voraginous paunches, and soaked gullets.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 376. No Nation in the World be more idle and voraginous than they.
1691. in C. R. Wilson, Old Fort William (1906), I. 11. Provisions … being extremely deer, made so by the Voraginous great Armyes near us.
Hence † Voraginousness. Obs.–1
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Iustine, IV. 74. Those Waves did bark, which the voraginousness of the devouring Sea did commit and clash together.
