DEN

Den. Den
A lair of wild beasts (Ps. 10:9; 104:22; Job 37:8); the hole of a venomous reptile (Isa. 11:8); a recess for secrecy “in dens and caves of the earth” (Heb. 11:38); a resort of thieves (Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17). Daniel was cast into “the den of lions” (Dan. 6:16, 17). Some recent discoveries among the ruins of Babylon have brought to light the fact that the practice of punishing offenders against the law by throwing them into a den of lions was common.

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den. Den, n. a cavern, cave for beasts, hole, valley

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Den (?), n. [[AS. denn; perh. akin to G. tenne floor, thrashing floor, and to AS. denu valley.]] 1. 1. A small cavern or hollow place in the side of a hill, or among rocks; esp., a cave used by a wild beast for shelter or concealment; as, a lion's den; a den of robbers.
2. 2. A squalid place of resort; a wretched dwelling place; a haunt; as, a den of vice. “Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of great capitals.” Addison.
3. 3. Any snug or close retreat where one goes to be alone.
4. 4. [[AS. denu.]] A narrow glen; a ravine; a dell. Shak.