adj. (colloquial).—An intensitive: detestable; fit only for Hell. Cf. AWFUL, BLOODY. Also adv.

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  1602.  J. COOKE, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife from a Bad, iii., 2 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix. 50].

                        Not these drugs
Do send me to the INFERNAL bugs,
But thy unkindness.

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  1646.  LADY MARY VERNEY, Letter [in Seventh Report of Historical MSS. Commission, 454]. Besides coaches which are most INFE[R]NELL dear.

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  1775.  SHERIDAN, The Duenna, iii. 1. There is certainly some INFERNAL mystery in it I can’t comprehend!

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  1846.  THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xi. Besides, he’s such an INFERNAL character—a profligate in every way.

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  1854.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, xi. The nights are INFERNALLY dark, though, in this beastly country.

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  1855.  THACKERAY, The Newcomes, lxxv. What an INFERNAL tartar and catamaran!

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  1888.  BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, ix. It had broken her INFERNAL neck.

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  1891.  N. GOULD, The Double Event, 114. ‘Never is any news in this INFERNAL hole,’ growled Smirk.

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