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fathom definition

fathom (fat̸h′əm)

noun

a unit of length used to measure the depth of water or the length of a nautical rope or cable, equal to 6 ft (1.8288 m)

Etymology: ME fadme < OE fæthm (akin to OFris fethm, OS pl. fathmōs), the two arms outstretched (to embrace, measure), akin to Ger faden, thread < IE base *pet-, to stretch out > L patere, to stretch out

transitive verb

  1. to measure the depth of; sound
  2. to get to the bottom of; understand thoroughly

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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