abysm

noun

ə-ˈbi-zəm

Synonyms of abysm next

: abyss

the dark backward and abysm of time—

William Shakespeare

Examples of abysm in a Sentence

a recurrent dream in which he would fall helplessly into a dark and silent abysm

Word History

Etymology

borrowed (with later spelling-pronunciation of s) from Anglo-French & Middle French abysme (compare Middle English abyme from Anglo-French abime, abisme), going back to Old French abysme, going back to Vulgar Latin *abismus, alteration of Late Latin abyssus abyss, perhaps via abíss(i)mus, alteration by haplology of abyssíssimus, a superlative derivative from abyssus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of abysm was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Abysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysm. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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abysm

noun

Synonyms

Examples of abysm in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near abysm

Cite this Entry