1. Extending
far adown the surface; of great
perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from tall, which is measured upward);
far to the bottom; having a determined depth; as, a
deep sea. "The
water where the brook is deep." (Shak)
2. Extending
far back from the
front or outer part; of great
horizontal dimension (measured backward from the
front or nearer part, mouth, etc); as, a
deep cave or
recess or wound; a
gallery ten seats deep; a
firm of soldiers
six files deep. "Shadowing squadrons deep." (Milton) "Safely in
harbor Is the king's
nave in the
deep nook." (Shak)
3. Low in situation;
lying far adown the common surface; as, a
deep valley.
4. Heavy to
penetrate or comprehend; profound; opposed to
shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a
deep subject or plot. "Speculations
tall or deep." (Milton) "A question
deep nearly as the
secret of life." (De Quincey) "O Lord, . . .
Thy thought are very deep." (Ps. Xcii. 5)
5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning. "Deep clerks
she dumbs." (Shak)
6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; hard; heartfelt; as,
deep distress;
deep melancholy;
deep horror. "Deep despair." . "Deep silence." . "Deep sleep." . "Deeper darkness." . "Their
deep poverty." . "An
attitude of
deep respect." (Motley)
7. Strongly coloured; dark; intense; not
easy or thin; as,
deep blue or crimson.
8. Of
low tone; full-toned; not
tall or sharp; grave; hard. "The
deep thunder." "The
bass of heaven's
deep organ." (Milton)
9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads. "The ways in that vale were very deep." (Clarendon) A
deep line of operations,
mourning complete and strongly marked, the garments
being not only all black,
but also composed of lusterless materials and of such
fashion as is identified with
mourning garments.
Origin: OE. Dep, deop, AS. Deop;
akin to D. Diep, G. Tief, Icel. Djpr, Sw. Diup, Dan. Dyb, Goth. Diups; fr. The
root of E. Dip, dive. See Dip, Dive.
Source: Websters Vocabulary