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Fathom vs Und - What's the difference?

fathom | und |

As nouns the difference between fathom and und

is that fathom is (obsolete) grasp, envelopment, control while und is a wave.

As a verb fathom

is (archaic) to encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.

fathom

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) Grasp, envelopment, control.
  • (nautical) A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
  • (by extension) Mental reach or scope; penetration; the extent of capacity; depth of thought or contrivance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Another of his fathom they have none / To lead their business (Othello, I.i. 151-2).

    Synonyms

    *(measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms) brace

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
  • To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
  • (figuratively) To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
    • I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.

    Synonyms

    * fathom out, figure out, puzzle out, work out

    Related terms

    * fathomable * fathometer * fathomless * fathom out * unfathomable

    External links

    * * *

    und

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A wave.
  • (label) A billow- or wave-like marking.

    • Related terms

    {{rel3, oundy , undade , undated , , undy , undulate , undulating}}

    References

    * (OED) (2nd ed., 1989), “ †und” ----