English Explanatory Dictionary

abyssal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
  2. Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone.
  3. Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic.
  4. In the utter depths of despair; gloomy.

Pronunciation

/əˈbɪs.l̩/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Persent101-abyssal.wav

Word forms

abyssal

Etymology

First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss + -al.

Related words

abysmal byssal

Derived words

abyssalbenthic abyssal blue abyssal fish abyssally abyssalpelagic abyssal plain abyssal rock abyssal zone hypabyssal hyperabyssal hypoabyssal nonabyssal
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