fathom English · revision 2245

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfað(ə)m/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfæðəm/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fadme]], ''fathme'',^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)^(RHWU) [[inh|ang|fæþm|t=outstretched arms; embrace; grasp]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|gem-pro|*faþmaz]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from the PIE root ''*pete-'' “to spread”.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It is cognate with Dutch ''vadem'', German ''Faden'' “thread, fathom” and Old Norse ''faðmr'' “embrace”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and akin to Latin ''patēre'' “to be open”.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Old English, the embracing arms, or the bosom; and figuratively, grasp or power (a1000).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) The measure of length covered by the outstretched arms is recorded from a800.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A fathom was the span of a man's outstretched arms, reckoned at about six feet,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) and became the standard unit for measuring the depth of water.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) The Old English verb meant “to embrace, encircle with the arms”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) From the depth measure came the verb “to take soundings” (1607),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) and from that, figuratively, “to get to the bottom of, understand thoroughly” (1625).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a800 – the length of the outstretched arms, as a measure.^(OED 1989)

+ * a1000 – the embracing arms; grasp, power.^(OED 1989)

+ * c1300 – verb, to encircle with the arms.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1604 – breadth of comprehension (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – verb, to take soundings.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1625 – verb, to understand thoroughly.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1634 – verb, to measure the depth of water.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.83 metres), used chiefly to measure the depth of water.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To understand something fully; to get to the bottom of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To measure the depth of water; to sound.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fathomable]]

+ * [[fathometer]]

+ * [[fathomless]]

+ * [[unfathomable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[patent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ At sea a fathom measures only depth, so a boat “100 fathoms offshore” is at the nearest point where the water is 600 feet deep, not 600 feet from the shore.^(Wiktionary) The verb is most often used in the negative, as in ''couldn't fathom''.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}