abyssal

English

Etymology

First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis,[1][2] from abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”).[3] Equivalent to abyss +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

Adjective

abyssal (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][1]
  2. (geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone. [First attested in the mid 19th century.][1]
  3. (geology) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic. [First attested in the late 19th century.][1]

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References
  1. “abyssal” in Lesley Brown, editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 11.
  2. Laurence Urdang (editor), The Random House College Dictionary (Random House, 1984 [1975], →ISBN), page 7
  3. Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], →ISBN), page 9
  • abyssal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Adjective

abyssal (feminine singular abyssale, masculine plural abyssaux, feminine plural abyssales)

  1. abyssal

Derived terms
  • plaine abyssale

Further reading
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