fathoming

verbdiscern, understand

Synonyms for fathoming

verb discern, understand

Antonyms for fathoming

Word Origin & History

Old English fæðm "length of the outstretched arm" (a measure of about six feet), also "arms, grasp," and, figuratively "power," from Proto-Germanic *fathmaz "embrace" (cf. Old Norse faðmr "embrace, bosom," Old Saxon fathmos "the outstretched arms," Dutch vadem "a measure of six feet"), from PIE *pot(e)-mo-, from root *pete- "to spread, stretch out" (see pace (n.)). There are apparent cognates in Old Frisian fethem, German faden "thread," which OED explains by reference to "spreading out."

Example Sentences for fathoming

He looked at her for a moment, fathoming the purport of what she said.

This difference is beyond the fathoming line of human thought.

In fact he had thrown himself in his hands for the purpose of fathoming his plots.

The doctor was fathoming Josephine, for the benefit of his companion.

My affection hampers me from fathoming Frank's inner-most thoughts.

I now felt that there was only one way of fathoming the secret of the crime.

Earlier, fathoming his purposes, she would have raged, have burst into a passion.

There is no fathoming 27 the devices of Scanderbeg's wily brain.

We very often get an idea of a community by fathoming its leading men.

To all appearance Richelieu cared but little about fathoming the business.