contrapasso

English

Etymology

Coined by Dante in his work Inferno, from contra (“counter”) and passo (“step, pace”).

Noun

contrapasso (uncountable)

1. The concept that the punishment of an individual's soul in Hell corresponds to the sin that person committed on earth.

See also

• poetic justice

Italian

Noun

contrapasso m (plural contrapassi)

1. Alternative form of contrappasso