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Webster 1913 Edition

Fathom

Fath′om

(făth′ŭm)
,
Noun.
[OE.
fadme
,
faðme
, AS.
fæðm
fathom, the embracing arms; akin to OS.
faðmos
the outstretched arms, D.
vadem
,
vaam
, fathom, OHG.
fadom
,
fadum
, G.
faden
fathom, thread, Icel.
faðmr
fathom, Sw.
famn
, Dan.
favn
; cf. Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] to spread out, [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] outspread, flat, L.
patere
to lie open, extend. Cf.
Patent
,
Petal
.]
1.
A measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man can extend his arms; – used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of navigable water by soundings.
2.
The measure or extant of one’s capacity; depth, as of intellect; profundity; reach; penetration.
[R.]
Another of his
fathom
they have none
To lead their business.
Shakespeare

Fath′om

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fathomed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Fathoming
.]
1.
To encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by throwing the arms about; to span.
[Obs.]
Purchas.
2.
To measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of; to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of.
Dryden.
The page of life that was spread out before me seemed dull and commonplace, only because I had not
fathomed
its deeper import.
Hawthotne.

Webster 1828 Edition

Fathom

FATH'OM

,
Noun.
1.
A measure of length containing six feet, the space to which a man may extend his arms; used chiefly at sea for measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of the sea is sounding by a line and lead.
2.
Reach; penetration; depth of thought or contrivance.

FATH'OM

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To encompass with the arms extended or encircling.
2.
To reach; to master; to comprehend.
Leave to fathom such high points as these.
3.
To reach in depth; to sound; to try the depth.
Our depths who fathoms.
4.
To penetrate; to find the bottom or extent. I cannot fathom his design.

Definition 2024

fathom

fathom

See also: faþom

English

Noun

fathom ‎(plural fathoms)

  1. (obsolete) Grasp, envelopment, control.
  2. (nautical) A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
  3. (by extension) Mental reach or scope; penetration; the extent of capacity; depth of thought or contrivance.
    • Shakespeare
      Another of his fathom they have none / To lead their business (Othello, I.i. 151-2).

Synonyms

  • (measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms): brace

Translations

Verb

fathom ‎(third-person singular simple present fathoms, present participle fathoming, simple past and past participle fathomed)

  1. (transitive, archaic) To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
  2. (transitive) To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
    I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.

Synonyms

Translations

Related terms

Etymology

From Middle English fathome, fadome, from Old English fæþm, fæþme ‎(“outstretched or encircling arms, embrace, grasp, protection, interior, bosom, lap, breast, womb, fathom, cubit, power, expanse, surface”), from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz ‎(“embrace”), from Proto-Indo-European *pet- ‎(“to spread out, extend”). Cognate with Low German fadem, faem ‎(“a cubit, thread”), Dutch vadem, vaam ‎(“fathom”), German Faden ‎(“thread, filament, fathom”), Danish favn ‎(“embrace, fathom”), Swedish famn ‎(“the arms, bosom, embrace”), Icelandic faðmur ‎(“embrace”), Latin pateō, Ancient Greek πετάννυμι ‎(petánnumi).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfæðəm/

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