different between fathomless vs incomprehensible

English

Etymology

fathom +? -less

Adjective

fathomless (comparative more fathomless, superlative most fathomless)

1. Very deep (especially of water deeper than a lead line can measure); bottomless.
2. (by extension) unfathomable or incomprehensible.

Synonyms

• (very deep): soundless; See also Thesaurus:deep
• (incomprehensible): ungraspable, unknowable; See also Thesaurus:incomprehensible

Derived terms

• fathomlessly

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French incomprehensible, from Latin incomprehensibilis.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??nk?mp???h?ns?b?l/

Adjective

incomprehensible (comparative more incomprehensible, superlative most incomprehensible)

1. impossible or very difficult to understand.
   • 1904-09, Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, published 1962

     But this inference, which is supported by the opening of Book I, renders incomprehensible the note "and I have finished writing this," which is included within the dream.

   • 1990, Greg Bear, Heads,

     He shook his head. 'It's not only undefined, it's incomprehensible. Even the QL is befuddled by it and can't give me straight answers.'

Synonyms

• fathomless, unfathomable, unintelligible; See also Thesaurus:incomprehensible

Antonyms

• comprehensible, understandable; See also Thesaurus:comprehensible

Related terms

• incomprehension

Translations

Noun

incomprehensible (plural incomprehensibles)

1. Anything that is beyond understanding.

Further reading

• incomprehensible in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• incomprehensible in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Middle French

Etymology

First known attestation 1314, borrowed from Latin incomprehensibilis.

Adjective

incomprehensible m or f (plural incomprehensibles)

1. incomprehensible

Descendants

• ? English: incomprehensible

References