noun
abysm
Abysm (noun) means (literary) Hell, or the formless chaos thought to exist before the world was made.
noun
1
(literary) Hell, or the formless chaos thought to exist before the world was made.
2
(literary) A very deep hole or gap that seems to have no bottom.
"Dr. Prunesquallor had circled around Steerpike with his head drawn back so that his cervical vertebrae rested against the near wall of his high collar, and a plumbless abysm yawned between his Adam’s apple and his pearl stud."
— Mervyn Peake, The Grotto (1946)
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Etymology
Abysm comes from Middle English abime, from Old French abisme, from Late Latin *abyssimus, a superlative of abyssus (“bottomless pit”), from Ancient Greek ἄβυσσος (ábussos). It is cognate with French abîme. See also abyss.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of abysm?
"abysm" (noun) means (literary) Hell, or the formless chaos thought to exist before the world was made.
What is another word for abysm?
Other words for "abysm" include abyss.
What are the different meanings of abysm?
"abysm" has 2 main meanings: 1. (literary) Hell, or the formless chaos thought to exist before the world was made; 2. (literary) A very deep hole or gap that seems to have no bottom.
