abyssal
/əˈbɪs.l̩/ adjective
- adjective (archaic) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
- adjective (geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone.
- adjective (geology) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic.
- adjective (figurative) In the utter depths of despair; gloomy.
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss + -al.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. Abyssal zone (Phys. Geog.), one of the belts or zones into which Sir E. Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in describing its plants, animals, etc. It is the one furthest from the shore, embracing all beyond one hundred fathoms deep. Hence, abyssal animals, plants, etc.
Etymology [Cf. Abysmal.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “abyssal”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details