Fathom is defined as to understand completely, or to measure the depth of something.
(verb)The definition of a fathom is a six foot length used to measure water depth.
(noun)An example of a fathom is a cable with markings every six feet which is used to find out the depth of a ocean.
See fathom in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
Origin: 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
Related Forms:
See fathom in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun Abbr. fth. or fm.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English fathme
Origin: , from Old English fǽthm, outstretched arms; see petə- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
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