profound en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English profound, profounde, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, profonde, from Latin profundus (“deep, profound”), from prō + fundus (“bottom; foundation”).
Meanings
-
Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- Very deep; very serious.
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Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough.
The most superficial phenomena are sometimes the most profound. Let us begin our analysis of [bourgeois] society … with the appearance of the clothes its members wore ….
1975, Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Capital. 1848-1875, published 1995, page 270:a profound investigation
Where no motives of interest or pride intervene, none can equal them for profound and philosophical views of society, ….
1819, Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, English Writers on America:a profound scholar
profound wisdom
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Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading.
How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
1860, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity : including that of the popes to the pontificate of Nicholas V.:I visited the wreckage at Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield. Potters Bar and Heck, and the experiences had a profound effect on me - especially Ladbroke Grove.
2023 September 20, Nigel Harris, “Comment Special: And it's goodbye from me...”, in RAIL, number 992, page 3:It’s probably one of the reasons the Shamima Begum case is having such a profound impact; one-dimensional stereotypes about Muslim women already run so deep.
2019, Shelina Janmohamed, “Long before Shamima Begum, Muslim women were targets”, in Guardian:
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Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive.
What humble gestures! What profound reverence!
a. 1662, Brian Duppa, Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, published 1683:And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires, and the curtain rises.
1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| profoundest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more profound | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most profound | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| profounder | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
unprofound · ultraprofound · profoundness · profoundly · pseudoprofound
Synonyms
Translations (71)
mk длабок (descending below the surface) · tr derin (descending below the surface) · hu mély (descending below the surface) · fi syväluotaava (intellectually deep) · fi perusteellinen (characterized by intensity) · hu beható (intellectually deep) · cho hofobi (descending below the surface) · el περισπούδαστος (intellectually deep) · it profondo (intellectually deep) · pdt deep (nds) (intellectually deep) · ota دریڭ (descending below the surface) · hu alapos (characterized by intensity) · fa عمیق (descending below the surface) · ro profund (intellectually deep) · bg дълбок (characterized by intensity) · fi syvä (descending below the surface) · ru глубо́кий (characterized by intensity) · fi syvällinen (intellectually deep) · ro adânc (intellectually deep) · pt profundo (intellectually deep) · cy dwfn (characterized by intensity) · cy dwfn (intellectually deep) · hu magvas (intellectually deep) · ro profund (descending below the surface) · el βαθυστόχαστος (intellectually deep) · fr profond (descending below the surface) · fa عمیق (intellectually deep) · it profondo (descending below the surface) · ota دریڭ (intellectually deep) · de tiefgehend (descending below the surface) · es profundo (intellectually deep) · hi गहन (intellectually deep) · mi hōhonu (intellectually deep) · bg дълбок (descending below the surface) · ms mendalam (intellectually deep) · ru ни́зкий (bending low) · ko 심오한 (intellectually deep) · nl diepgaand (descending below the surface) · tr derin (intellectually deep) · hu mély (bending low) · pt profundo (descending below the surface) · fr profond (intellectually deep) · af wys (intellectually deep) · uk ґрунто́вний (intellectually deep) · el βαθύς (bending low) · it profondo (characterized by intensity) · el εμβριθής (intellectually deep) · ru глубо́кий (intellectually deep) · af diep (descending below the surface) · el έντονος (characterized by intensity) · ru му́дрый (intellectually deep) · nl diepgaand (characterized by intensity) · bg проникновен (intellectually deep) · el βαθύς (descending below the surface) · ro care e în adânc (descending below the surface) · cs hluboký (intellectually deep) · pl głęboki (intellectually deep) · ru основательный (intellectually deep) · eo profunda (intellectually deep) · hu mélységes (descending below the surface) · nl wijs (intellectually deep) · nl diep (descending below the surface) · cy dwfn (descending below the surface) · de tiefgehend (intellectually deep) · ro profund (characterized by intensity) · pt profundo (characterized by intensity) · es profundo (characterized by intensity) · es profundo (descending below the surface) · ru глубо́кий (descending below the surface) · cs oduševnělý (intellectually deep) · uk глибо́кий (intellectually deep)