fathoms

We have found lemma(root) word of fathoms : fathom.

Definitions


[ˈfað(ə)m], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water
(e.g: sonar says that we're in eighteen fathoms)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English fæthm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vadem, vaam and German Faden ‘six feet’. The original sense was ‘something which embraces’, (plural) ‘the outstretched arms’; hence, a unit of measurement based on the span of the outstretched arms, later standardized to six feet


[ˈfað(ə)m], (Verb)

Definitions:
- understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought
(e.g: the locals could not fathom out the reason behind his new-found prosperity)

- measure the depth of (water)
(e.g: an attempt to fathom the ocean)


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English fæthm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vadem, vaam and German Faden ‘six feet’. The original sense was ‘something which embraces’, (plural) ‘the outstretched arms’; hence, a unit of measurement based on the span of the outstretched arms, later standardized to six feet




definition by Oxford Dictionaries