n. [ OF. abisme; F. abime, LL. abyssimus, a superl. of L. abyssus; Gr. &unr_;. See Abyss. ] An abyss; a gulf. “The abysm of hell.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending; profound. [ 1913 Webster ]
Geology gives one the same abysmal extent of time that astronomy does of space. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. To a fathomless depth; profoundly. “Abysmally ignorant.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. abyssus a bottomless gulf, fr. Gr. &unr_; bottomless;
Ye powers and spirits of this nethermost abyss. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
The throne is darkness, in the abyss of light. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
The abysses of metaphysical theology. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
In unfathomable abysses of disgrace. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ This word, in its leading uses, is associated with the cosmological notions of the Hebrews, having reference to a supposed illimitable mass of waters from which our earth sprung, and beneath whose profound depths the wicked were punished. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. Abysmal. ] Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. [ 1913 Webster ]
Abyssal zone (Phys. Geog.),
n.
a. Of or pertaining to Abyssinia. [ 1913 Webster ]
Abyssinian gold,
n.
n. The quality of being a baby; the personality of an infant. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. the work of a baby sitter; caring for children when their parents are not home. [ WordNet 1.5 ]