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abîme
/a.bim/
abyss
Il contemplait l'abîme avec une fascination mêlée de terreur.
He stared into the abyss with a mix of fascination and terror.
literal
A deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or pit.
Les alpinistes ont risqué leur vie en explorant cet abîme.
The mountaineers risked their lives exploring that abyss.
Often used metaphorically to describe a situation of despair or moral emptiness.
figurative
A state of extreme distress, ruin, or moral corruption.
Son addiction l'a plongé dans un abîme de désespoir.
His addiction plunged him into an abyss of despair.
Common in literary and philosophical contexts.
Collocations
plonger dans l'abîmeto plunge into the abyssau bord de l'abîmeon the brink of disaster
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Metaphorical vs. Literal
When 'abîme' is used metaphorically (e.g., 'plonger dans l'abîme'), it refers to a state of ruin or despair, not a physical chasm.
Gold Rule
Contextual Meaning
Always check the context to determine if 'abîme' is being used literally (a physical chasm) or figuratively (a state of ruin).
Word Origin
From Old French *abisme*, from Late Latin *abyssimus*, superlative of Latin *abyssus* (abyss), from Ancient Greek ἄβυσσος (*ábussos*, "bottomless"), from ἀ- (*a-*, "without") + βυθός (*buthós*, "depth").
Usage Notes
In French, 'abîme' is often used in both literal and figurative contexts. The figurative sense is common in literature and philosophical discourse to describe moral or existential ruin.
Word Breakdown
ab-
privative prefix (without)
prefix-îme
superlative suffix (deepest)
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais