Where does “abyssal” come from?
Abyssal comes from Medieval Latin abyssalis, derived from Latin abyssus, from Ancient Greek ἀ- (privative prefix) combined with a root from Proto-Indo-European dʰewb- meaning "deep."
abyssal (English): Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss;...
Definitions
- Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss;...
Ancestry of “abyssal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | abyssalis | — |
| 2 | Latin | abyssus | an abyss |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἄβυσσος | bottomless, boundless; unfathomable; bottomless... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |