Profound

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /pɹəˈfaʊnd/

Definitions

1. Deep in meaning, intensity, or significance; showing great knowledge or insight
2. characterized by intense significance and deep comprehension that extends far beyond surface level
3. Extremely deep or intense in nature or feeling ; demonstrating exceptional insight or understanding beyond the obvious

Etymology: Latin "profundus" was built from "pro-", meaning "forward" or "before," and "fundus," meaning "bottom" or "foundation." The image is literal: something that reaches far down toward the base. The Latin word itself had this sense of depth long before it described serious thought or feeling. The same "fundus" also gave English "fund" and "fundamental," which share the idea of a solid base underneath. The word reached English through Old French, where it became "profont" and then "profond," and through Anglo-Norman, which carried it into Middle English as "profound" and "profounde." English speakers used it first for physical depth, such as deep water or a deep pit, and then extended it to mean a thorough or far-reaching quality. Its move from measuring distance to measuring intellect and emotion is what makes the adjective feel so weighty today. A profound insight is one that goes down to the root of a matter, and a profound sorrow is one that reaches the very bottom of a person. Both uses still follow the Latin picture of depth beneath the surface.

Synonyms: deep, intense, meaningful, significant, far-reaching

Antonyms: superficial, shallow, trivial, insignificant, light