different between imaginary vs profound

English

Etymology

From Middle French imaginaire, from Latin im?gin?rius (“relating to images, fancied”), from im?g?.

The mathematical sense derives from René Descartes's use (of the French imaginaire) in 1637, La Geometrie, to ridicule the notion of regarding non-real roots of polynomials as numbers. Although Descartes' usage was derogatory, the designation stuck even after the concept gained acceptance in the 18th century.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??mæd??n(?)?i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??mæd???n??i/

Adjective

imaginary (comparative more imaginary, superlative most imaginary)

1. Existing only in the imagination.

   • Wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer / Imaginary ills and fancied tortures?

2. (mathematics, of a number) Having no real part; that part of a complex number which is a multiple of ${\displaystyle {\sqrt {-1}}}$ (called imaginary unit).

Synonyms

• (existing only in the imagination): all in one's head

Derived terms

• imaginarily
• imaginariness
• imaginarity
• imaginary number
• imaginary unit

Translations

Noun

imaginary (plural imaginaries)

1. Imagination; fancy. [from 16th c.]
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 324:

     By then too Mozart's opera, from Da Ponte's libretto, had made Figaro a stock character in the European imaginary and set the whole Continent whistling Mozartian airs and chuckling at Figaresque humour.
2. (mathematics) An imaginary quantity. [from 18th c.]
3. (sociology) The set of values, institutions, laws, and symbols common to a particular social group and the corresponding society through which people imagine their social whole.

References

English

Etymology

From Middle English profound, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, from Latin profundus, from pro + fundus (“bottom; foundation”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: pr?-found?, IPA^(key): /p???fa?nd/
• Rhymes: -a?nd
• Hyphenation: pro?found

Adjective

profound (comparative more profound, superlative most profound)

1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
2. Very deep; very serious
3. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough
4. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading
   • 1603-1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

     How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

   • 1860, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity : including that of the popes to the pontificate of Nicholas V.

     Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.

   • 2019, Shelina Janmohamed, Long before Shamima Begum, Muslim women were targets, in the Guardian.[1]

     It’s probably one of the reasons the Shamima Begum case is having such a profound impact; one-dimensional stereotypes about Muslim women already run so deep.

5. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive
   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

     And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires, and the curtain rises.

   • 17th century, Brian Duppa, Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion

     What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Translations

Noun

profound (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
   • 1638, George Sandys, A Paraphrase vpon the Divine Poems, Exodvs 15:

     God, in the fathomlesse profound / Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.

2. (obsolete) An abyss.
   • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost (Book II), 976-980:

     ...if some other place, / From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King / Possesses lately, thither to arrive / travel this profound. Direct my course...

Verb

profound (third-person singular simple present profounds, present participle profounding, simple past and past participle profounded)

1. (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
2. (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

Related terms

• profundicate
• profundify
• profundity
• profoundness

Old French

Adjective

profound m (oblique and nominative feminine singular profounde)

1. (late Anglo-Norman) Alternative spelling of profont