abysm

abysm — noun

1. A deep, seemingly endless empty space — used in old poetry and stories for both

1.名詞C2
釋義

A deep, seemingly endless empty space — used in old poetry and stories for both real places (the sea, a cave) and imagined ones (sorrow, time, the unknown).

例句

Noa stared into the dark abysm from the cliff's crumbling edge.

collocation: stare into the abysm

The old poem described grief as an abysm that swallows all light.

figurative use: abysm as a metaphor for grief

同義詞
  • abyss

    the standard modern equivalent; used in all registers

  • chasm

    narrower — suggests a physical split or crack in the earth

  • void

    more abstract — emphasises total emptiness rather than depth

  • gulf

    suggests a wide gap or division, often between two things

用法筆記

An archaic spelling of abyss, now found almost exclusively in poetry and older literary works. In modern English, use abyss instead.

常見錯誤

❌The hikers peered into the abysm far below.
✅The hikers peered into the abyss far below.
💡abysm is an archaic form; abyss is the standard modern word.