From Middle English fathome, fadom, fadme (“unit of length of about six feet; depth of six feet for nautical soundings; (loosely) cubit; ell”) [and other forms], from Old English fæþm, fæþme (“encircling or outstretched arms, bosom, embrace; envelopment; control, grasp, power; fathom (unit of measurement); cubit”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *faþm (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Indo-European *pet-, *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”).
Cognates
* Ancient Greek πέταλος (pétalos, “broad; flat”), πετᾰ́ννῡμῐ (petắnnūmĭ, “to open; to spread out; to be dispersed or scattered”) (whence English petal)
* Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌸𐌰 (faþa, “fench; hedge”)
* Latin pateō (“to extend, increase; to be accessible, attainable, open; to be exposed, vulnerable”)
* Low German fadem, faem (“cubit; thread”)
* Middle Dutch vadem (modern Dutch vaam, vadem (“fathom”))
* Norwegian Bokmål favn (“an embrace; a fathom”)
* Old Frisian fethm (“outstretched arms”)
* Old High German fadam, fadum (“cubit”) (Middle High German vade (“enclosure”), vadem, vaden, modern German Faden (“fathom; filament, thread”))
* Old Norse faþmr (Danish favn (“an embrace; a fathom”), Icelandic faðmur (“an embrace”), Swedish famn (“the arms, bosom; an embrace”))
* Old Welsh etem (“thread”)
Meanings
(US, historical) A man's armspan, generally reckoned to be six feet (about 1.8 metres). Later used to measure the depth of water, but now generally replaced by the metre outside American usage.
[T]he ſhipmen deemed that they drew neere to ſome countrey: And ſounded, and found it twentie fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they ſounded againe, and found it fifteene fathoms. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 27:27–28, column 2:
And then they told me that a good many years ago, when the speakers were boys, some Wokan men who were out fishing met these lost people in the sea, and spoke to them; and the chief gave the Wokan men a hundred fathoms of cloth to bring to the men of Wanumbai, to show that they were alive and would soon come back to them[.] 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 262:
Full fadom fiue thy Father lies,
Of his bones are Corrall made:
Those are pearles that were his eies,
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a Sea-change
Into someting rich, & strange 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 5, column 1:
(US, historical) A man's armspan, generally reckoned to be six feet (about 1.8 metres). Later used to measure the depth of water, but now generally replaced by the metre outside American usage. ▸ An internationally standardized version of this unit, the international fathom (= 1.8288 metres = 6 feet).
(US) A measure of distance to shore: the nearest point to shore at which the water depth is the value quoted.
At fifty fathoms, the waters of the Southern Ocean are dark blue. 1983, Richard Ellis, “The Predators”, in The Book of Sharks, 1st paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, published 1989, →ISBN, page 7:
After we'd rowed for an hour, we found ourselves stranded ten fathoms from shore.
(figuratively, in-plural) An unspecified depth.
(archaic, figuratively, obsolete) Depth of insight; mental reach or scope.
Another of his fathome they haue not / To leade their buſineſſe, […] c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
(obsolete) The act of stretching out one's arms away from the sides of the torso so that they make a straight line perpendicular to the body.
(obsolete) Someone or something that is embraced.
Thy Bride, thy choice, thy vvife, / She that is novv thy fadom, […] Kneele at thy feete, obay in euerie thing, / So euerie Father is a priuate King. 1601 (first performance), Thomas Dekker, Satiro-mastix. Or The Untrussing of the Humorous Poet. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for Edward White, […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature E, verso:
(figuratively, obsolete) Control, grasp.
Yes: / you have blovvne his ſvvolne pride to that vaſtnes, / as he beleeves the earth is in his fadom, / this makes him qute forget his humble Being: […] 1622 May 24 (licensing date; Gregorian calendar), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Prophetesse”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 29:
So; novv knovv I vvhere I am, me thinkes already / I graſpe beſt part of the Autumnian bleſſing / In my contentious fadome, […] 1604 (first performance), [Thomas Middleton], “Inductio”, in Michaelmas Terme. […], London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Edward Allde] for A[rthur] I[ohnson] […], published 1607, →OCLC, signature A2, recto:
toise (unit of length) · estadio (unit of length) · stade (unit of length) · braza (unit of length) · orguia (unit of length) · brace (unit of length)
Translations (76)
msk dupa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fo favnur (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · de Klafter (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ru фадом (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sh hvȃt (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · uk сажень (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · mi mārō (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · id depa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · es braza (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · da favn (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ms depa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sv famn (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · he פַאדוֹם (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · uk фатом (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · eo klafto (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fr brasse (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ja ファゾム (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · cy gwryd (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ca braça (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fa بازه (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · gl braza (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ota قولاچ (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ru морская са́жень (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · isd dappa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · bg дълбочина (depth of insight, mental reach or scope) · he אַמַּת יָם (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fa باز (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ilo deppa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · th วา (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · nrf brache (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · mi aronui (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · nl vadem (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · cs sáh (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · txb keṣe (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · id depang (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · grc ὀργυιά (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · tl tarok (depth of insight, mental reach or scope) · ka ზღვის საჟენი (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fi syli (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · et süld (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ar قامة (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ka საზღვაო საჟენი (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · cmn 英尋 /英寻 (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · akl dupa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · it braccio (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · bg клафтер (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sk siaha (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ceb dupa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ro stânjen marin (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · el οργιά (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · de Faden (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ja 尋 (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · cmn 英寻 (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · bg фатом (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · myv сэль (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ro fathom (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ro braț (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · hu öl (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sl seženj (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ru фатом (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · tr kulaç (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sa व्याम (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · ga feá (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · pl sążeń (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · cy gwrhyd (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · sh хва̑т) (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · oc braça (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · te బార (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · mba dupa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fa باژ (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · tl dipa (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · pt braça (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · is faðmur (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · tet roha (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · mi whanganga (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise) · fr toise (measure of six feet — see also brace, toise)
From Middle English fathome, fadom, fadme (“unit of length of about six feet; depth of six feet for nautical soundings; (loosely) cubit; ell”) [and other forms], from Old English fæþm, fæþme (“encircling or outstretched arms, bosom, embrace; envelopment; control, grasp, power; fathom (unit of measurement); cubit”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *faþm (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“outstretched arms, embrace; fathom (unit of measurement)”), from Proto-Indo-European *pet-, *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”).
Cognates
* Ancient Greek πέταλος (pétalos, “broad; flat”), πετᾰ́ννῡμῐ (petắnnūmĭ, “to open; to spread out; to be dispersed or scattered”) (whence English petal)
* Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌸𐌰 (faþa, “fench; hedge”)
* Latin pateō (“to extend, increase; to be accessible, attainable, open; to be exposed, vulnerable”)
* Low German fadem, faem (“cubit; thread”)
* Middle Dutch vadem (modern Dutch vaam, vadem (“fathom”))
* Norwegian Bokmål favn (“an embrace; a fathom”)
* Old Frisian fethm (“outstretched arms”)
* Old High German fadam, fadum (“cubit”) (Middle High German vade (“enclosure”), vadem, vaden, modern German Faden (“fathom; filament, thread”))
* Old Norse faþmr (Danish favn (“an embrace; a fathom”), Icelandic faðmur (“an embrace”), Swedish famn (“the arms, bosom; an embrace”))
* Old Welsh etem (“thread”)
Meanings
(also, figuratively, transitive) To measure the depth of (water); to take a sounding of; to sound.
It is very steep, and on its summit is a lake of dark water, so deep that it cannot be fathomed. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 457:
(archaic, obsolete, transitive) To encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; specifically, to measure the circumference or (rare) length of something.
(figuratively, transitive) Often followed by out: to deeply understand (someone or something); to get to the bottom of.
Otamendi’s selection ahead of Vincent Kompany was difficult to fathom and, apart from Fernandinho, City’s line-up was otherwise filled with attacking players. 2018 April 10, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London):
I can’t for the life of me fathom what this means.
(obsolete, transitive) To embrace (someone or something).
(intransitive) To measure a depth; to sound.
(figuratively, intransitive) To conduct an examination or inquiry; to investigate.
et aru saama (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sl objeti (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · de verstehen (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · fr s'imaginer (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · sk pochopiť (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es hondear (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru измеря́ть (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · uk усвідомлювати (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru осознава́ть (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sv förstå (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · tr kulaçlamak (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · hu kifürkész (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · io sondar (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · uk обхопити (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · ru обхватить (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · cs měřit hloubku (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · bg проумявам (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · hu kitalál (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · hu átölel (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · ro sonda (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · fr comprendre (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · de ausloten (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · sv omfamna (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · sv begripa (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · it capire (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · bg разбирам (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sv fatta (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · de sondieren (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · es desentrañar (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · et hoomama (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · fi luodata (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · nl begrijpen (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sl dognati (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · nl vatten (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · yue 理解 (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru разузнавать (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ro îmbrățișa (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · gl abrazar (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · da begribe (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es profundizar (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · de ergründen (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · fr saisir (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ca sondejar (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · hu rájön (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · hu megért (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es asondar (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru постигать (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · nl snappen (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es sondear (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · fi syleillä (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · cs pochopit (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · nl bevroeden (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ka ჩასწვდება (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ota قولاچلامق (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · ro apuca (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · sk objať (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · es sondear (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · fr saisir (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · sk obsiahnuť (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · de loten (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · de umarmen (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · ru иссле́довать (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · bg разбера (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · da fatte (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sl izmeriti (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · ro înțelege (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · uk обійняти (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · uk збагнути (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es fondear (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · pt sondar (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · cs porozumět do hloubky (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ro măsura (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · sk zvládnuť (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · fi käsittää (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sv famna om (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · fr comprendre (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · cs proniknout (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sv loda (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · es sondar (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · got 𐌼𐌹𐍄𐍉𐌽 (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru выясня́ть (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ro pătrunde (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru вруби́ться (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ca abraçar (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · it comprendere (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es asondar (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · oc abraçar (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · bg проумея (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es fondear (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ka სწვდება (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · et mõistma (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru расследовать (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es ahondar (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · uk здогадуватися (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · sk obsiahnuť (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ru понима́ть (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · tr kulaçlamak (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · ru де́лать проме́р лотом (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · es sondar (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound) · pt compreender (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · ca comprendre (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es abrazar (to encircle (someone or something) with outstretched arms; to measure the circumference or length of something) · cs přijít na kloub (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · uk осягати (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · de begreifen (to deeply understand (someone or something)) · es hondear (to measure the depth of (water) — see also sound)