Abyss meaning
(frequently figuratively) A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable; any void space. [First attested in the late 16th century.]
noun
The definition of an abyss is an extremely deep or bottomless hole or chasm, either literal or figurative.
A bottomless pit is an example of an abyss.
A person who is very depressed may be said to have fallen into an abyss.
noun
An immeasurably deep chasm, depth, or void.
noun
A deep fissure in the earth; bottomless gulf; chasm.
noun
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Anything too deep for measurement; profound depth.
Abyss of shame, of time, etc.
noun
The ocean depths.
noun
The primeval void or chaos before the Creation.
noun
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An impending catastrophic happening.
noun
Origin of abyss
- Middle English abissus from Late Latin abyssus from Greek abussos bottomless a- without a–1 bussos bottom
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English abissus, from Late Latin abyssus (“a bottomless gulf”), from Ancient Greek ἄβυσσος (abussos, “bottomless”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”)+ βυσσός (bussos, “deep place”),, from βυθός (bythos, “deep place”).
From Wiktionary