fathom

fathom
noun
  1. a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water
    英寻（长度单位，等于６英尺或1.8米，主要表示水深）
    sonar says that we're in eighteen fathoms.
    声呐显示我们的深度为18英寻。
verb
[with obj.]
  1. [usu. with negative]understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought
    领会，理解；揣摩（难题，深沉的人）
    the locals could not fathom out the reason behind his new-found prosperity.
    当地人都猜不透他新近暴富的原因。
    [with clause]he couldn't fathom why she was being so anxious.
    他搞不懂她为什么这么心急。
  2. measure the depth of (water)
    测（水）的深度
    an attempt to fathom the ocean.
    测量海洋深度的尝试。
派生
fathomable
adjective
fathomless
adjective
语源
  1. Old English fæthm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vadem, vaam and German Faden 'six feet'. 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
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