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Webster 1913 Edition

Profound

Pro-found′

,
Adj.
[F.
profond
, L.
profundus
; pro before, forward +
fundus
the bottom. See
Found
to establish,
Bottom
lowest part.]
1.
Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep.
“A gulf profound.”
Milton.
2.
Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough;
as, a
profound
investigation or treatise; a
profound
scholar;
profound
wisdom.
3.
Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed;
as, a
profound
sleep
.
“Profound sciatica.”
Shak.
Of the
profound
corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
Milman.
4.
Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive;
as, a
profound
bow
.
What humble gestures! What
profound
reverence!
Duppa.

Pro-found′

,
Noun.
1.
The deep; the sea; the ocean.
God in the fathomless
profound

Hath all this choice commanders drowned.
Sandys.
2.
An abyss.
Milton.

Pro-found′

,
Verb.
T.
To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.

Pro-found′

,
Verb.
I.
To dive deeply; to penetrate.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Profound

PROFOUND'

,
Adj.
[L.profundus; pro and fundus, bottom. See Found.]
1.
Deep; descending or being far below the surface, or far below the adjacent places; as a gulf profound.
2.
Intellectually deep; that enters deeply into subjects; not superficial or obvious to the mind; as a profound investigation; profound reasoning; a profound treatise.
3.
Humble; very lowly; submissive; as a profound reverence for the Supreme Being.
4.
Penetrating deeply into science or any branch of learning; as a profound scholar; a profound mathematician; a profound historian.
5.
Deep in skill or contrivance.
The revolters are profound to make slaughter. Hos.5.
6.
Having hidden qualities.
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vap'rous drop profound.

PROFOUND'

,
Noun.
The deep; the sea; the ocean; as the vast profound.
1.
The abyss.
I travel this profound.

PROFOUND'

,
Verb.
I.
To dive; to penetrate. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

profound

profound

English

Adjective

profound ‎(comparative more profound, superlative most profound)

  1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
    • (Can we date this quote?), John Milton
      A gulf profound
  2. Very deep; very serious
  3. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
  4. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep.
    • (Can we date this quote?), Shakespeare
      Profound sciatica
    • (Can we date this quote?), Henry Hart Milman
      Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
  5. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Dupp
      What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Translations

Noun

profound ‎(uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
    • 1638, George Sandys, A Paraphrase vpon the Divine Poems, Exodvs 15:
      God, in the fathomlesse profound / Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.
  2. (obsolete) An abyss.
    • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost (Book II), 976-980:
      ...if some other place, / From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King / Possesses lately, thither to arrive / travel this profound. Direct my course...

Verb

profound ‎(third-person singular simple present profounds, present participle profounding, simple past and past participle profounded)

  1. (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Thomas Browne to this entry?)
  2. (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

Related terms

Old French

Adjective

profound m ‎(oblique and nominative feminine singular profounde)

  1. (late Anglo-Norman) Alternative spelling of profont

Etymology

Borrowing from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, from Latin profundus, from pro + fundus ‎(“bottom; foundation”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /prəˈfaʊnd/
  • Rhymes: -aʊnd

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