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prettygoodwordbarathrum - n., an abyss; a person who eats like a bottomless pit.
Originally, a pit in ancient Athens into which condemned criminals were thrown. This became (apparently in Latin?) a general word for an abyss. Exactly when this was transferred to the person, I can't find (there's a Finnish doom metal band getting in the way) but I wouldn't be surprised to learn Dante had something to do with it. Via Latin from Greek, meaning pit or gulf.
---L.
Originally, a pit in ancient Athens into which condemned criminals were thrown. This became (apparently in Latin?) a general word for an abyss. Exactly when this was transferred to the person, I can't find (there's a Finnish doom metal band getting in the way) but I wouldn't be surprised to learn Dante had something to do with it. Via Latin from Greek, meaning pit or gulf.
---L.
