English → Latin
“fathom” in Latin
explōrōto investigate, search out, seek, discover, examine, explore; to spy out, reconnoitre; to test, try, put to the proofpervestīgōto examine or investigate thoroughlyperspiciōto see through something; to perceive or discern clearlyexquīrōto seek or seek out, search for or hunt up; to inquire into
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
fathom s.
*orgyia (ὀργυιά; the Romans did not use this measure): terni cubiti; or perhaps ulna (a measure varying from six to eight feet).
Penetration or depth, Vid:
Fathom-line, cataprorates (= “linea cum massa plumbea, qua maris altitudo tentatur,” Isid. Orig.).
fathom v.
To sound the depth of water, maris altitudinem tentare (Isid. Orig.).
To penetrate into, explorare: pervestigare: indagare et pervestigare: perspicere: to fathom the truth, quid verum sit, exquirere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for fathom?
- The usual Latin words for “fathom” are explōrō, pervestīgō, perspiciō; also exquīrō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.