different between abyssal vs dismal

English

Etymology

First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss +? -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??b?s.l?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??b?s.l?/
• Rhymes: -?s?l

Adjective

abyssal (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]
2. (geography) Of or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone. [First attested in the mid 19^th century.]
3. (geology) Pertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic. [First attested in the late 19^th century.]

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• byssal

References

• abyssal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Etymology

From Late Latin abyssalis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.bi.sal/

Adjective

abyssal (feminine singular abyssale, masculine plural abyssaux, feminine plural abyssales)

1. abyssal

Derived terms

• gigantisme abyssal
• plaine abyssale

Further reading

• “abyssal” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman dismal, from Old French (li) dis mals ("(the) bad days"), from Medieval Latin di?s (“day”) m?l? (“bad”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?zm?l/
• Rhymes: -?zm?l

Adjective

dismal (comparative more dismal, superlative most dismal)

1. Disastrous, calamitous
2. Disappointingly inadequate.
3. Causing despair; gloomy and bleak.

4. Depressing, dreary, cheerless.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "dismal" is often applied: failure, performance, state, record, place, result, scene, season, year, economy, future, fate, weather, news, condition, history.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:cheerless

Derived terms

• dismal science

Translations

Anagrams

• almids