Webster's English Dictionary

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fathom

1. fath.om \'fath-*m\ n [ME fadme, fr. OE fthm outstretched arms, 
   length of the ou]tstretched arms; akin to ON fathmr fathom, L pate-re to be 
   open, pandere to spread out, Gk petannynai 1: a unit of length equal to 6 
   feet used esp. for measuring the depth of wa ter 2: COMPREHENSION 
2. fathom \'fath-*-m*-b*l\ vt 1: to measure by a sounding line  2: to 
   penetrate and come to understand  : to take soundings; also : PROBE  - 
   fath.om.able aj