abysso-, abyss-, abys-

1. Without a bottom; bottomless (no bottom): "The deep canyon seemed to be an abysm because Jodi could not see the bottom."
2. Anything too deep for measurement: "The well in the garden was an abysm because Daryl was unable to determine how deep it was."
3. An immeasurably profound depth or void; a bottomless pit: "Verna's heart felt like an abysm of sadness after her boyfriend left her for another relationship."

1. Immeasurably deep, severe, or extreme; fathomless: "The depth of her sorrow was an abysmal situation and, as a result, she could find no expression except to cry."
2. Informal, extremely bad or of very low quality: "The teacher abhorred the abysmal behavior in her class by her students."
3. Incapable of being measured or even understood; incomprehensible, inscrutable: "Kristy felt like an abysmal failure because she couldn't remember how to spell the key word in the spelling contest."
4. Etymology: from the year 1656, formed in English from obsolete abysm, "bottomless gulf, greatest depths"; from Old French abisme, from Vulgar Latin abyssimus.

In a terrible manner; very bad: "Kirk's lack of manners abysmally reflected his upbringing and attendance at a sublevel public school."

1. A bottomless pit: "Jim leaned over the precipice and saw the deep abyss."
2. Anything too deep or too great to be measured; lowest depth: "Melody's heart felt like an abyss of despair after she received the e-mail."
3. An immeasurably deep chasm, depth, or void: "The canyon was described as an abyss because it was almost impossible to see its bottom."
4. The primeval chaos out of which it was believed that the earth and sky were formed: "The film portrayed the abyss out of which the formation of the earth and solar system is supposed to have taken place."
5. The abode of evil spirits; hell, thought of as a bottomless pit: "Hugh's anguished soul descended into the abyss of hell."

"Strictly speaking, the abyss is a particular zone extending between 3,000 and 6,000 meters (9,840 and 19,680 feet at 3.28 feet per meter) in depth. By extension, the abyss is also used to designate the deep oceans everywhere."

1. Of or inhabiting the depths of the ocean to which light does not penetrate; unfathomable: "The abyssal fish appeared to be blind because there was no light where they lived."
2. In oceanography, of or relating to the deepest regions of the ocean and the organisms inhabiting that environment; at depths between 4 000 and 6 000 meters (13,123 feet and 19,685 feet) : "In order to explore the abyssal regions of the ocean, specialized underwater robots were used."

Flat, sediment-covered areas in the deep ocean basin, usually at depths between 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

In oceanography, of or relating to the deepest regions of the ocean: "The ship sank in the abyssal benthic area of the ocean floor and was completely inaccessible."

1. Pertaining to, or found on, the bottom of the ocean at depths exceeding about 1 000 meters (3280.839 feet): "Willard had to use specialized equipment to explore the abyssobenthic areas of the ocean."
2. Living on or in the ocean floor in the great depths of the oceans or lakes into which light does not penetrate; commonly used in oceanography of depths between 4 000 and 6 000 meters (13,123 and 19,685 feet): "The fish that was discovered just last week was an example of an abyssobenthonic creature."

A large mass of intrusive igneous rock having an exposed surface area of more than forty square miles, with no apparent base or floor of older rock: "In their oil research, the scientists described the abyssolith layers of rock in which the fossil fuel could be found."

"The term abyssolith is part of the vocabulary used in the science of petrology."

1. A reference to the region of deep water which excludes the ocean floor; floating in the ocean depths. Living in the oceanic water column at depths of between 4,000 and 6,000 meters [13,120 feet to 19,680 feet], seaward of the shelf-slope break: "The marine biologists used specialized mechanical diving equipment to explore the abyssopelagic depths of the sea."
2. Of or relating to organisms or phenomena in mid-water, but still at great depths: "At the abyssopelagic depths of the sea, many of the creatures are blind."

One misstep leads to another.

Literally, "Hell calls hell." A warning that the first step in the temptation to go astray from what is "right" (or "morally correct") is difficult to prevent; however, we must always be on guard to strive for what is ethical and honorable.

1. A description of igneous rocks; especially, in the form of dikes or sills, created when molten magma rose to the surface of the earth's crust but solidified before reaching it.
2. Designating a rock in texture that is intermediate between plutonites (a deep-seated rock) and extrusive rocks (forced out at the surface) which are usually formed at moderate distances below the surface; part of the vocabulary used in the science of petrology.

Solidifying primarily as a minor intrusion; especially, as a dike or sill (a vertical or near-vertical mass of igneous rock that has forced its way upward through overlying strata), before reaching the earth's surface; a reference to rocks.