Untiefe

== German == === Etymology === Formally un- (“un-”) +‎ Tiefe (“depth”). The nautical sense “shallows” is chiefly from Middle Low German undēpe (compare Dutch ondiepte (“shallows”)). It is also attested in Old High German untiufī, but seemingly not in Middle High German. In the sense “abyss”, the prefix un- takes the meaning “inconceivable” as, for example, in Unding (“absurdity, deformity”). It is first attested in Middle High German intiefe (“something inscrutable”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈʊnˌtiːfə/ === Noun === Untiefe f (genitive Untiefe, plural Untiefen) (nautical) shallows; shoal; shallow depth Synonym: seichte Stelle (chiefly figurative) abyss; precarious depth Synonym: Abgrund ==== Usage notes ==== Untiefe is a contranym. Note, however, that the figurative use of 2 is actually not contradictory to sense 1, since both refer to a dangerous spot. Literal uses of sense 2 are rare in contemporary German. ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== untief === Further reading === “Untiefe” in Duden online “Untiefe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “Untiefe” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.