4 0. xcvfvf. She could not fathom whether it was curiosity, devotion, gratitude, or apprehension and distrust--but the expression on all the faces was identical. 2. I still can't fathom out what she meant: 2. a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth, measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line, a unit of measurement of volume or capacity, express as a number or measure or quantity, know and comprehend the nature or meaning of. English Mr Böge, I cannot quite fathom what you mean by defective methods of calculation. 1usually with negative Understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought. Definition of fathom in English English dictionary Grasp, envelopment, control A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans To measure the depth of, take a sounding of To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.) Fathom Definition. Jeremy's passive attitude was hard to fathom: 7. om. 0 0. But I can't fathom anyone reading stories like this and not feeling the sting and burn of utter, abject shame. can't fathom definition, meaning, English dictionary, synonym, see also 'can't',you can't win',you can or can't talk',can't tell (or doesn't know)chalk from cheese', Reverso dictionary, English definition… fathom definition: 1. a unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to 1.8 metres or 6 feet 2. to discover the…. Learn more. It’s hard to imagine it; even having worked several winters in acute admissions in an NHS hospital and then having gone through the pandemic, I can’t still can’t quite fathom how bad things are going to get. It's here! To fathom something is to understand it thoroughly, and is usually used in the negative, as in "I can't fathom why he doesn't want to go along with us." What is the American word for the British crisps? 22. What is the American word for the British tea towel? It might mean something like 'my thoughts are scattered and I can't make any sense or pattern of them'. To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend. A fathom is a measurement of 6 feet or 1.8 meters, used when referring to the depth of water. 19. Answer Save. I simply can't fathom quantum physics. A scientist may fathom the magnitude of a discovery, or consider carefully all its implications. We sailed into the bay and dropped anchor in five fathoms of water. |@Micah_6789 It's old in US English when used to mean you understand. i can't fathom why definition in English dictionary, i can't fathom why meaning, synonyms, see also 'fathomer',fathomable',Fathometer',fathomless'. It is hard to fathom the pain felt at the death of a child: 4. Fathom comes to us from Old English fæthm, meaning "outstretched arms." Lv 5. (4) He could never fathom ever giving up his absolute free will. ", Fathom is from Middle English fadme, from Old English fæthm "outstretched arms." (3) She didn't have time to fathom the mystery of books, though. There is a difference of a fathom in the mean height of the tides. The original meaning of the noun fathom was “the two arms outstretched.” A fathom was the length represented by the arms of a full-grown man held straight out to either side. 8 years ago. As a secondary usage it means you understand the subject being discussed or don't if worded in the negative. It's free and takes five seconds. 2. to contemplate or think about with effort Source(s): https://shrink.im/a7Wmb. To say that you cant't fathom something means you can't understand it properly. 5 Answers . (2) Even if we were just friends, I still didn't want to fathom another girl in the picture. A fathom is one of those units of linear measurement that we learned at school (at least we did when I was at an English grammar school in the 14th century) and now can't quite remember just what length they refer to. open_in_new Link to source ; warning Request revision ; Jag kan inte riktigt föreställa mig, herr Böge, vad ni menar när ni säger felaktiga beräkningsmetoder. 8 years ago. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition … What exactly does this quote mean? Jessi sat frozen, unable to fathom that the simple red gem was capable of such magic. oms 1. 8. fath‧om1 /ˈfæðəm/ noun [ countable] a unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to six feet or about 1.8 metres Examples from the Corpus fathom • In Taylor's Level the ground was equally as hard and the rate had been increased there to £9 a fathom. He couldn't fathom out what the man could possibly mean: 3. “The shipwreck sits on the ocean floor at 2000 fathoms.” Fathom is also a verb that means to understand. Could he fathom the meaning of the colors? Old English fæthm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vadem, vaam and German Faden ‘six feet’. Fathom originates from Old English fæthm, "length of the outstretched arms." It's free and takes five seconds. The literal meaning of the verb, to fathom is “to encircle with the arms.” For example, a tree trunk might be too thick for a man to fathom (i.e., encircle with his arms). Sign up. Favorite Answer. 14. (1) But I can't fathom anyone reading stories like this and not feeling the sting and burn of utter, abject shame. 16. 1. a unit of mesuring distance that is 6 feet or about equal to the length of a grown man's outstreched arms. I can only begin to fathom the horrors the soldiers endured during the war. 2. transitive verb [no cont, oft with brd-neg] If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it. What is the American word for the British torch? The Old English and modern English noun also refers to a unit of length used to measure the depth of water. We sailed into the bay and dropped anchor in five fathoms of water. What is the American word for the British flick knife? Answer Save. I’ll bet you’ve heard of the famous musical “Phantom of the Opera.” A fathom is a measurement of depth in water. more_vert. What does that mean? 4 Answers. (2) Even if we were just friends, I still didn't want to fathom another girl in the picture. ‘But I can't fathom anyone reading stories like this and not feeling the sting and burn of utter, abject shame.’ ‘She couldn't fathom him having any of those anymore.’ ‘It really did give one's mind a good exercise, trying to fathom out the clues, whether they be ‘red herrings’ or helpful hints.’ Here Are Our Top English Tips, The Best Articles To Improve Your English Language Usage, The Most Common English Language Questions. Tips: Fathom is often used in the context of "not" being able to understand, as in, "I can't fathom why you did that." SumDude. "I can't fathom why he did that." 5 0. To determine the depth of; sound. It's too 'deep' for you to understand. 23. A fathom is a measurement of 1.8 metres or 6 feet, used when referring to the depth of water. Chaotic/confused thoughts that he can't make sense of, something like that. Are You Learning English? e.g. 15. Learn more. What is the American word for the British number plate? ‘But I can't fathom anyone reading stories like this and not feeling the sting and burn of utter, abject shame.’ ‘She couldn't fathom him having any of those anymore.’ ‘It really did give one's mind a good exercise, trying to fathom out the clues, whether they be ‘red herrings’ or helpful hints.’ 16. “I still can't fathom how somebody would do that to somebody.” I cannot fathom that,” and calling Lewandowski “a political shill.” I can't fathom it. What is the American word for the British braces? 2. The Old English and modern English noun also refers to a unit of length used to measure the depth of water. I can't fathom her out — she says one thing then does another: 6. Favorite Answer. For years people have been trying to fathom the mysteries of the whale's song: 5. I can't for the life of me fathom what this means. What is the American word for the British holiday? I just can't fathom people who could have a quiet life, who don't have to be controversial for a living, but do it anyway. Relevance. The original sense was ‘something which embraces’, (plural) ‘the outstretched arms’; hence, a unit of measurement based on the span of the outstretched arms, later standardized to six feet. What is the American word for the British first floor? That might not be true in UK English. Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, Vocabulary.com can put you a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 meters): used chiefly in nautical measurements. 4 years ago. Like you, I struggle to fathom what this will mean for farmers, ranchers, and rural America. - English Only forum though clear enough in a literal sense, in a figurative one were difficult to fathom - English Only forum to further fathom.. - English Only forum Unable to fathom the implied meaning of this extract - English Only forum 9 years ago . To understand something thoroughly is "to get to the bottom of it.". (3) She didn't have time to fathom the mystery of books, though. Don't have an account yet? Definition of I can only begin to fathom ... Fathom = imagine/understand You'd use this phrase to mean "I can't truly understand" or "I can't even imagine" Ex. Use of "Fathom" word in sentences, examples. Lexico's first Word of the Year! Relevance? 2. verb [no cont] If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it. Canadians can't fathom the length of our political campaigns. My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations. A unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water. , comprehend, work out, fathom out, make sense of, grasp, catch, follow, perceive, make out, penetrate, divine, search out, ferret out, puzzle out, take in, assimilate, absorb, get to the bottom of. Lv 7. This meaning is where the original nautical measurement originated. Example. Anonymous. What is the American word for the British football? A fathom is the unit of measurement used in calculating sea depth. I can't point you to any tests, sorry, but I can tell you why FLAC etc can sound better than MP3. He couldn't fathom why she'd taken such exception to Eleanor. To determine the depth of; sound. Think, depth of understanding. I can't even fathom basicly means I can't understand. Sign up. 18. Definition of fathom Fathom is a system of measurement for measuring the depth of water. A fathom is a measurment of the depth of water in the sea. Erika. To fathom something is to understand it thoroughly, and is usually used in the negative, as in "I can't fathom why he doesn't want to go along with us. on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. The noun fathom, which now commonly refers to a measure (especially of depth) of six feet, was originally used for the distance, fingertip to fingertip, created by stretching one's arms straight out from the sides of the body. Understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought. oms 1. What is the American word for the British tick? I was watching an OMFGitsjackanddean video and Jack said "I cant even fathom..!" (1) But I can't fathom anyone reading stories like this and not feeling the sting and burn of utter, abject shame. 9 years … A phantom is like a ghost. (4) He could never fathom ever giving up his absolute free will. im confused. Does English Have More Words Than Any Other Language? It’s equal to about 6 feet or 1.8 meters. To penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend. 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