abyssal

Meaning

Adjective

• Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.
• Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone.
• Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic.

Origin

• First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus ("abyss") + -alis. Equivalent to abyss + -al.