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fathom

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fathom

Main Entry:: ¹fath·om
Pronunciation:: \ˈfa-thəm\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm outstretched arms, length of the outstretched arms; akin to Old Norse fathmr fathom, Latin patēre to be open, pandere to spread out, Greek petannynai
Date:: before 12th century

1 : a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used especially for measuring the depth of water —sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number <five fathom deep> 2 : comprehension

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