abyssal
English edit
Etymology edit
First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis,[1][2] from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”).[3] Equivalent to abyss + -al.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈbɪs.l̩/
- (US) IPA(key): /əˈbɪs.l̩/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪsəl
Adjective edit
abyssal (not comparable)
- (archaic) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][1]
- (geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone. [First attested in the mid 19th century.][1]
- (geology) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic. [First attested in the late 19th century.][1]
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
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belonging to the ocean depths
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See also edit
References edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abyssal”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 11.
- ^ Laurence Urdang (editor), The Random House College Dictionary (Random House, 1984 [1975], →ISBN), page 7
- ^ Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], →ISBN), page 9
- “abyssal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
French edit
Etymology edit
From Late Latin abyssālis.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
abyssal (feminine abyssale, masculine plural abyssaux, feminine plural abyssales)
Derived terms edit
Further reading edit
- “abyssal”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.