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abyss

[ uh-bis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a deep, immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity; vast chasm.
anything that seems to be without end or is impossible to measure, define, or comprehend:
the abyss of their grief and sorrow.
(in ancient cosmogony)
1. the primal chaos before Creation.
2. the infernal regions; hell.
3. a subterranean ocean.

Abyss.

abbreviation for

Abyssinia.
Abyssinian.

abyss

/ əˈ��ɪ�� /

noun

a very deep or unfathomable gorge or chasm
anything that appears to be endless or immeasurably deep, such as time, despair, or shame
hell or the infernal regions conceived of as a bottomless pit

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abyss¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English abissus, from Late Latin abyssus, from Greek á��ǲ� “bottomless,” equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + ��ó�� “bottom of the sea”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abyss¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek abussos bottomless (as in the phrase abussos limnē bottomless lake), from a- ¹+ bussos depth

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

After spending time in the divine abyss, we’re back in reality, ripped from the stratosphere and placed into one of life’s most mundane torments: the hygienist’s chair.

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As damaged heroes go, Mastroianni easily keeps our attention and triggers our sympathies for someone who resists the abyss, as near to it as she is.

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I glanced over to find the mother staring into the abyss of the fridge, experiencing some premonition of what grim fate was about to befall her daughter.

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He claimed universities were "nearing or toppling into an economic abyss".

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"When we face such an abyss, such a cliff edge it says to them they don't have a place in society and that's where it needs to change."

From

Related Words

abysmal abyssal

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