Dictionary

abyssal en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /əˈbɪs.l̩/ (US)
• /əˈbɪs.l̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss + -al.

Meanings

1. (archaic, not-comparable) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
2. (not-comparable) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone.
   • This "abyssal" life, typically in the form of strange tube-worms and microbes, is almost completely unknown to science. 1994 November 15, The Canberra Times, Australian Captial Territory, page 11, column 6:
   • "Ea", the beneficent god of earth and life, who dwelt in the abyssal waters, was shown with two streams running from his hands or shoulders[.] 1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 11, column 1:
3. (not-comparable) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic.
4. (figuratively, not-comparable) In the utter depths of despair; gloomy.
   • In an attempt to avoid sliding into incorrigible despair, I abandon such abyssal and existential pondering and investigate the artist behind the work. 1998 August 11, Tharunka, Kensington, page 35, column 1:

Coordinates

sublittoral · bathyal · hadal

Deriveds

abyssal zone · nonabyssal · abyssal rock · abyssal plain · abyssalpelagic · abyssal blue · abyssalbenthic · hyperabyssal · hypabyssal · abyssally · hypoabyssal · abyssal fish

Hypernyms

benthic

Relateds

byssal · abysmal

Translations (28)

kk абиссалды (belonging to the ocean depths) · ru глубоково́дный (belonging to the ocean depths) · cs abysální (belonging to the ocean depths) · hu abisszális (belonging to the ocean depths) · es abisal (belonging to the ocean depths) · el απύθμενος (belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable) · hu abisszikus (belonging to the ocean depths) · el αβυσσαίος (belonging to the ocean depths) · pl abysalny (belonging to the ocean depths) · ro abisal (belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable) · ca abissal (belonging to the ocean depths) · bg дълбоководен (belonging to the ocean depths) · de abyssisch (belonging to the ocean depths) · el απειροβαθής (belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable) · ru абисса́льный (belonging to the ocean depths) · sh abisal (belonging to the ocean depths) · es abisal (belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable) · fi abyssaalinen (belonging to the ocean depths) · ro abisal (belonging to the ocean depths) · sh dubinski (belonging to the ocean depths) · pl głębokowodny (belonging to the ocean depths) · ru глуби́нный (belonging to the ocean depths) · pl abisalny (belonging to the ocean depths) · pl głębokomorski (belonging to the ocean depths) · fa مغاکی (belonging to the ocean depths) · pt abissal (belonging to the ocean depths) · el αβυσσαλέος (belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable) · fi abyssinen (belonging to the ocean depths)