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fathom

fath·om [ fáəm ]


noun  (plural fath·oms)
Definition:
 
measure of water depth: a unit of length equal to 1.83 m (6 ft), used mainly in nautical contexts for measuring the depth of water



transitive verb  (past and past participle fath·omed, present participle fath·om·ing, 3rd person present singular fath·oms)
Definition:
 
1. comprehend something: to understand something, usually something profound or mystifying
couldn't fathom why he came back

2. measure water depth: to measure the depth of water, especially using a sounding line

[ Old English fæþm, origin ?]

fath·om·a·ble adjective
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