PROFOUND

profound, unfathomed, unplumbed, unsounded

(adjective) situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have been sounded or plumbed; “the profound depths of the sea”; “the dark unfathomed caves of ocean”-Thomas Gray; “unplumbed depths of the sea”; “remote and unsounded caverns”

heavy, profound, sound, wakeless

(adjective) (of sleep) deep and complete; “a heavy sleep”; “fell into a profound sleep”; “a sound sleeper”; “deep wakeless sleep”

profound

(adjective) coming from deep within one; “a profound sigh”

profound

(adjective) of the greatest intensity; complete; “a profound silence”; “a state of profound shock”

profound

(adjective) showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth; “the differences are profound”; “a profound insight”; “a profound book”; “a profound mind”; “profound contempt”; “profound regret”

fundamental, profound

(adjective) far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something; “the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred”; “the book underwent fundamental changes”; “committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance”; “profound social changes”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

profound (comparative more profound, superlative most profound)

Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.

Very deep; very serious

Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough

Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading

Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive

Noun

profound (uncountable)

(obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.

(obsolete) An abyss.

Verb

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

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

(obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

Source: Wiktionary

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Pro*found", a. Etym: [F. profond, L. profundus; pro before, forward + fundus the bottom. See Found to establish, Bottom lowest part.]

1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.

2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.

3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep. "Profound sciatica." Shak. Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt. Milman.

4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow. What humble gestures! What profound reverence! Dupp

Pro*found", n.

1. The deep; the sea; the ocean. God in the fathomless profound Hath all this choice commanders drowned. Sandys.

2. An abyss. Milton.

Pro*found", v. t.

Definition: To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pro*found", v. i.

Definition: To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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