abysm

noun

ə-ˈbi-zəm 

: abyss

the dark backward and abysm of time

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

• abyss
• chasm
• deep
• gulf
• ocean

Example Sentences

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