Abime

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A diamond-shaped figure or charge used in heraldry, typically placed in the center of a shield
2. A lozenge-shaped heraldic element that appears as a diamond form on a coat of arms
3. A diamond or rhombus shape employed in heraldic design, often centered on the field of a shield

Etymology: "Abime" is an English spelling borrowed from French "abime," which in turn derives from the same root that gave English "abyss." The word is essentially a French form kept with its original spelling, so the everyday English sense of a deep chasm or bottomless pit carries over from the French meaning. Because it is borrowed directly rather than adapted over centuries, the word still looks and sounds French to most English readers, which is why it tends to appear in poetic or literary contexts. Its close relative "abyss" came into English by a different route, so the two words are a useful pair for seeing how one source can produce both a naturalized English term and a more recently imported French-style one.

Synonyms: abyss, chasm, void

Antonyms: summit, peak