fathoms
From WikiWord, the free dictionary
English
Definitions
noun
- Grasp, envelopment, control.
- (now usually nautical) An English unit of length for water depth notionally based upon the width of grown man's outstretched arms but standardized as 6 feet (about 1.8 m).
- Various similar units in other systems.
- Depth of insight, mental reach or scope.
verb
- To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
- To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
- To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend; understand (a problem etc.).“I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.”