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abysm

American  
[uh-biz-uhm] / əˈbɪz əm /

noun

  1. an abyss.


abysm British  
/ əˈbɪzəm /

noun

  1. an archaic word for abyss

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of abysm

1250–1300; Middle English abi ( s ) me < Middle French abisme < Vulgar Latin *abyssimus, a neologistic pseudo-superlative of Late Latin abyssus abyss

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And then, ignoring the dizzying abysm behind us, the head told us the story of St Hugh, as depicted there in front of us in the stained glass.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2014

As if to answer Prospero's question, "What seest thou else in the dark backward and abysm of time?"

From Time Magazine Archive

As against Europe's dark backward and abysm of wars and revolutions, America was still a New World with its own democratic New Order still evolving.

From Time Magazine Archive

The enemies of the Axis had one little glimmer of consolation in last week's abysm.

From Time Magazine Archive

We could see nothing in the dark abysm that frowned below; and we waited till the light should break forth again.

From The War Trail The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Reid, Mayne