[‘ ‘The descent into Avernus is easy’: easy is the descent into hell. Chiefly fig.: it is easy to slip into evil or immoral ways.']
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈfasɪlɪs dɛˈsɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ/, ˈfakɪlɪs dɛˈskɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ, U.S. /ˈfæsɪlᵻs dɛˈsɛnsəs əˈvərˌnaɪ/, ˈfækɪlᵻs dɛˈskɛnsəs əˈvərˌnaɪ
Forms: α. 15– *facilis descensus Averni*, 18 *facilus descensus Averni* /irreg./. β. 18– *facilis descensus Averno*.
Etymology: < classical Latin /facilis dēscensus Avernī/ (Virgil Aeneid 6. 126, in some MSS; the preferred reading is Avernō), lit. the descent of (or to) Avernus (is) easy < /facilis/ facile adj. + dēscensus/ descence n. + /Avernī (or Avernō), genitive (or dative) of Avernus (see Avern n.).
‘The descent into Avernus is easy’: easy is the descent into hell. Chiefly fig.: it is easy to slip into evil or immoral ways.
Avernus was the name of a deep lake near Puteoli, the reputed entrance to the underworld.
?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio /Pasquine in Traunce/ f. 82v, It is an easie matter to goe to Hell, as euery man knoweth, as Virgil sayth. Facilis descensus Auerni.
1618 T. Adams /Happines of Church/ ii. 76 And downe a hill, for hell is a bottome. Facilis descensus Auerni.
1655 S. Fisher /Christianismus Redivivus/ 621 Its an uphill, a narrow way that leads to life, therefore few find it, but facilis descensus averni the way to the bottomlesse pit is an easie, and broad descent.
1793 /Indian Observ./ 3 Dec. (1795) 73 The only difficulty is in the first step: then facilis descensus Averni.—Eugenius is undone.
1845 /Jrnl. Statist. Soc./ *8* 36 Almost two thirds re-convicted under 22 years of age, and with such sentences additional in all cases to those under which they were sent to New South Wales recorded against them. ‘Facilis descensus Averno!’
1895 G. B. Shaw /Let./ 22 Apr. (1965) 525 Moral ruin followed slowly but surely—facilis descensus Averni.
1946 ‘D. Yates’ /Red in Morning/ i. 27, I took twenty-seven pounds from the monies entrusted to my care. Facilis descensus averni. And I have never looked back.
1966 H. H. Smith /War on Powder River/ (1967) ii. vii. 55 Finally the rustler might come to burning over other men’s brands… He was now a full-fledged thief. Facilis descensus averno.
1993 W. J. Leonard /Let. Carrier/ viii. 118 Humanity seemed to have got itself on a garbage chute, and went down from one level of filthiness to the next. Facilis descensus averni.