abysm

noun

\ ə-ˈbi-zəm

\

Definition of abysm

: abyss the dark backward and abysm of time —William Shakespeare

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about abysm

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of abysm in a Sentence

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

History and Etymology for abysm

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about abysm

Dictionary Entries near abysm

Statistics for abysm

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for abysm

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

panoply

a magnificent or impressive array

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games