Abyss

英语词汇
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词性：n.
音标： [əˈbɪs]
释义：深渊，无底洞，深邃

The noun abyss refers to a deep void or chasm — either literal or figurative. Making a momentous life decision with great uncertainty, like enrolling in clown college, might feel like jumping into the abyss.

Traditionally, the abyss referred to the “bottomless pit” of Hell. Now it might refer to either a literal chasm or a figurative one: “Thirty years ago, we peered into this abyss and pulled back just in time.” The word is sometimes used to describe a wide difference between cultures or nations. Abyss comes from Greek: a- “without” + byssos, “depth, bottom.” You may know the related adjective abysmal, which means “appallingly bad” — or “way down in the depths,” as it were.

What does the phrase “stare into the abyss” mean?
The word “abyss” means a deep, almost endless cavern or hole. The literal meaning of this phrase, then, is to stare into endless darkness.

To understand the actual meaning of the phrase, it helps to know the full sentence: “When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back.”

In plain English, you might rephrase this as “When you confront evil, make sure it doesn’t influence you.”

For example, if a politician is investigating corruption, they may begin to see it everywhere and may themselves become corrupt as a result.

In a more extended use, the phrase can be used to mean the effect that study of anything at all can have on your mind.

Endlessly seeking out the truth in an “abyss” can lead you to unpleasant truths, after all.

In short, then, “staring into the abyss” means to deeply contemplate something foreign to yourself, and which may have consequences on your concept of your own self.

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So how deep is this abyss?

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We must stare into the abyss.

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And if you stare into the abyss too long…

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Hey, look – a black abyss.

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@Chatbot 你是一个英语教学的大师，你会用通俗易懂的方式给学生讲解各类英语知识，现在请你给我解释下上面帖子中我着重讲解的单词，介绍下这些单词在正式文书和口语中的各类含义，各举几个地道，自然的例子。介绍下这些单词的来历，以及我如何才能记住这些单词呢？

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好的，Tristan。我会以简明易懂的方式来解释“abyss”这个单词的含义、用法、来历，并提供一些地道的例子，帮助你更好地理解和记住这个词。

单词解析：Abyss

含义

  1. Abyss (n.) - 深渊，无底洞，深邃。
    • Literal: (Literal) A deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or hole. 例：The abyss at the edge of the cliff looked terrifying.
    • Figurative: A profound difference between people, feelings, or situations. 例：The economic abyss between the rich and the poor is widening.

在正式文书中的用法

  1. Literal Meaning:

    • Example: “The explorers stood at the edge of the abyss, looking down into the darkness below.”

  2. Figurative Meaning:

    • Example: “The negotiations stalled, confronting both parties with an abyss of distrust.”

在口语中的用法

  1. Literal Meaning:

    • Example: “There’s a massive abyss in the game level we need to jump across.”

  2. Figurative Meaning:

    • Example: “After the argument, I felt like there was an abyss between me and my best friend.”

著名短语与用法

  1. Staring into the Abyss:
    • Complete Phrase: “When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back.”
    • Meaning: This means that when you confront something deeply troubling or evil, it can begin to have an effect on you.
    • Example: “Investigating the criminal underworld felt like staring into the abyss.”

单词来源

  • 词源: Abyss 来自希腊语 “ἄβυσσος” (ábyssos)，由前缀 “a-” （表示“无”）和 “býthos” （表示“深度，底部”）组成，意为“无底的”，“深不可测的”。

记住这个单词

  1. 词根联想: “a-” (没有) + “byssos” (深度) = abyss，表示没有底的深渊。
  2. 视觉联想: 想象一个无底洞，从未见过的深渊。
  3. 短语记忆: 通过常见短语“stare into the abyss”记住这个单词及其含义。

示例回顾

  • Literal Use: “Peering into the abyss gave me a sense of vertigo.”
  • Figurative Use: “He felt like his life was tumbling into an abyss after losing his job.”

通过这些解释、例句、词源和记忆技巧，希望你能更好地理解和使用 “abyss” 这个单词。如果有进一步的疑问或需要更多的例子，随时告诉我！