Profound

Pronunciation

• IPA: /prəˈfaÊŠnd/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠnd

Origin

Late Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, from Latin profundus, from pro + fundus ("bottom; foundation").

Full definition of profound

Adjective

1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
• unknown date, John MiltonA gulf profound
2. Very deep; very serious
3. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
• 1819, s:Author:Washington Irving, s:The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Where no motives of interest or pride intervene, none can equal them for profound and philosophical views of society, ….
4. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep.
• unknown date, ShakespeareProfound sciatica
• unknown date, Henry Hart MilmanOf the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
5. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
• unknown date DuppWhat humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Noun

1. (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.God in the fathomless profound
   Hath all this choice commanders drowned. Sandys.
2. (obsolete) An abyss.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
2. (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

Related terms

• profundity
• profoundness