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From an Old English word meaning "to embrace" as the measure (of water depth) came to mean a man's handspan, then two yards (six feet) when standardised.

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Q: What is the origin of the word fathom?
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What is the Latin word meaning of 'fathom'?

The Latin word for fathom is to open


What is the word origin for the word unfathomable?

Fathom is an Old English word that means "length of the outstretched arm" which is a measure of about six feet. As a verb fathom means to embrace, surround, envelop. As a verb fathom also has the meaning to take soundings or measure the depth of water. The figurative sense of "get to the bottom of, understand" is from around 1620s. So unfathomable - adjective means you can't get to the bottom of something or understand something


Use the word fathom in a sentence?

the water here is 7 fathom deep.


What is a sentence with the word fathom?

She was at a loss when she looked into his eyes, how could she fathom his motives for wanting to kill her?


How do you use the word fathom?

A fathom is a nautical term representing six feet. Thus, two fathoms is twelve feet.


Seven letter word for hardest to Fathom?

densest


Can you use the word fathom in a sentence?

Danny couldn't fathom why his brother believed drinking tomato paste and pickle juice would increase his vitality.


What is word to use to definite distance from outstretched fingertip to fingertip?

Fathom


What is the latin root of fathom?

There'sno Latin root to 'fathom'. Instead, faethm is the root of 'fathom'. It's an Old English noun whose actual meaning is 'wingspan'. Old English refers to the language of the English people from the fifth through the eleventh centuries.


How do you fathom in a sentence?

"I do not fathom what you are talking about." "The water is one fathom deep."


What part of speech is word fathom?

The word "fathom" can function as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a unit of measurement for depth, typically used in nautical contexts. As a verb, it means to understand or comprehend something deeply or thoroughly.


What does the word fathom mean in statements like He could not fathom her reasons for leaving?

It means he could not understand or comprehend the reasons. The verb "fathom" (to penetrate to the meaning or nature) derives from the process of measuring water depth, the unit "fathom" being equal to 6 feet.