abyssal

== English == === Etymology === First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss +‎ -al. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈbɪs.l̩/ (US) IPA(key): /əˈbɪs.l̩/ Rhymes: -ɪsəl === Adjective === abyssal (not comparable) (archaic) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. [First attested in the mid 17th century.] (geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone. [First attested in the mid 19th century.] (geology) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic. [First attested in the late 19th century.] (figurative) In the utter depths of despair; gloomy. ==== Hypernyms ==== benthic ==== Coordinate terms ==== sublittoral bathyal hadal ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === abysmal byssal === References === “abyssal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. == French == === Etymology === From Late Latin abyssālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /a.bi.sal/ === Adjective === abyssal (feminine abyssale, masculine plural abyssaux, feminine plural abyssales) abyssal ==== Derived terms ==== gigantisme abyssal plaine abyssale === Further reading === “abyssal”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012