Abyss

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /əˈbɪs/
• US IPA: /əˈbɪs/, /æˈbɪs/, enPR: É™-bÄ­s'
• Rhymes: -ɪs

Alternative forms

• abysm, abime

Origin

From Middle English abissus, from Late Latin abyssus ("a bottomless gulf"), from Ancient Greek ἄβυσσος (abussos, "bottomless"), from ἀ- (a-, "not")+ βυσσός (bussos, "deep place"),

SOED5|page=11

,

American Heritage 1971|page=6

from βυθός (bythos, "deep place").

MW3 1976|page=9

Full definition of abyss

Noun

1. Hell; the bottomless pit; primeval chaos; a confined subterranean ocean. First attested around 1350 to 1470.
2. (frequently figurative) A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable; any void space. First attested in the late 16^th century.
3. Anything infinite, immeasurable, or profound. First attested in the late 16^th century.
4. Moral depravity; vast intellectual or moral depth.
5. An impending catastrophic happening.
6. (heraldry) The center of an escutcheon.

Usage notes

(impending catastrophic happening) It is typically preceded by the word the.

Derived terms

• abyssal

Related terms

• abysmal

Anagrams

• bassy