Is fathom the same as understand?

To fathom something is to understand it thoroughly, and is usually used in the negative, as in “I can’t fathom why he doesn’t want to go along with us.”

What is the difference between fathom and fathom?

There are two yards (6 feet) in an imperial fathom. Originally the span of a man’s outstretched arms, the size of a fathom has varied slightly depending on whether it was defined as a thousandth of an (Admiralty) nautical mile or as a multiple of the imperial yard….

What does it mean if I say I can’t fathom it?

2 verb If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it.

How do you use the word fathom?

Fathom sentence example

1. He could not fathom the depth of the ocean.
2. She couldn’t fathom the idea.
3. I just can’t fathom out why he lied.
4. We were pensive as we tried to fathom what was occurring.
5. Another part of her couldn’t fathom how a man colder than a sociopath could be working for the side of good.

What word class is fathom?

fathom. / (ˈfæðəm) / noun. a unit of length equal to six feet (1.829 metres), used to measure depths of water. mining a unit of volume usually equal to six cubic feet, used in measuring ore bodies.

How is a fathom defined?

fathom, old English measure of length, now standardized at 6 feet (1.83 metre), which has long been used as a nautical unit of depth. The name comes from the Old English faedm or faethm, meaning outstretched arms.

What fathom means?

six feet
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.

What does the word fathom mean in the Bible?

1 : to measure by a sounding line. 2 : to penetrate and come to understand couldn’t fathom the problem.

What does fathom mean in the Bible?

What does ‘Fathom’ mean?

Fathom comes to us from Old English fæthm, meaning “outstretched arms.” The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one’s arms straight out from the sides of the body.

Is Fathom a verb?

Verb. Fathom comes to us from Old English fæthm, meaning “outstretched arms.”. The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one’s arms straight out from the sides of the body.

What does ‘difficult to fathom’ mean?

When you fathom the depth of a river, sea, or ocean at a certain point you measure it. You measure the depth of an ocean in fathoms. To understand something thoroughly is to fathom it. When you say it is difficult to fathom a person’s mind you mean it is difficult to understand them.

What is the past tense of Fathom?

Here’s the word you’re looking for. Answer. The past tense of fathom is fathomed. The third-person singular simple present indicative form of fathom is fathoms. The present participle of fathom is fathoming.