baratro

abyss; chasm

noun BAH-rah-troh Rare

Origin: From Greek 'barathron' (pit, abyss).

Usage Note

Baratro is used both literally (a deep natural chasm) and — far more commonly in modern Italian — figuratively, to describe a catastrophic situation (sull'orlo del baratro — 'on the brink of the abyss'). It is a high-register, literary word; in everyday speech abisso or precipizio cover the literal sense. The plural is regular: i baratri.

Examples

"Il paese è sull'orlo del baratro."

Natural Translation

The country is on the brink of the abyss.

Literal Translation

The country is on-the-edge of-the abyss.

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