Word of the Day

: December 2, 2006

abyssal

adjective uh-BISS-ul

What It Means

1 : impossible to comprehend : unfathomable

2 : of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depths

abyssal in Context

Scientists have discovered remarkable creatures living in the abyssal depths of the sea.

Did You Know?

"Abyssal" is a relatively infrequently used word, though it's derived from the more prevalent noun, "abyss." In contrast, the adjective "abysmal" is more common than its corresponding noun "abysm." All four terms descend from the Late Latin word "abyssus," which is in turn derived from the Greek "abyssos" ("bottomless"). "Abyss" and "abysm" are synonymous (both can refer to the mythical bottomless pit in old accounts of the universe or can be used more broadly in reference to any immeasurably deep gulf), but the adjectives "abyssal" and "abysmal" are not used identically. "Abyssal" can mean "incomprehensible," but it's most often found in contexts referring to the bottom of the sea. "Abysmal" shares the oceanographic sense with "abyssal," but it more frequently means "immeasurably deep" or "absolutely wretched."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.