Pronunciation
- enPR: prə-found′, IPA(key): /pɹəˈfaʊnd/
- Rhymes: -aʊnd
- Hyphenation: pro‧found
Adjective
profound (comparative more profound, superlative most profound)
- Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
- Very deep; very serious
- Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough
- a profound investigation
- a profound scholar
- profound wisdom
- Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
1860, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity : including that of the popes to the pontificate of Nicholas V.:Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
2019, Shelina Janmohamed, “Long before Shamima Begum, Muslim women were targets”, in Guardian:It’s probably one of the reasons the Shamima Begum case is having such a profound impact; one-dimensional stereotypes about Muslim women already run so deep.
2023 September 20, Nigel Harris, “Comment Special: And it's goodbye from me...”, in RAIL, number 992, page 3:I visited the wreckage at Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield. Potters Bar and Heck, and the experiences had a profound effect on me - especially Ladbroke Grove.
- Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive
1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:And with this, and a profound bow to his patrons, the Manager retires, and the curtain rises.
a. 1662, Brian Duppa, Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, published 1683:What humble gestures! What profound reverence!
Translations
descending below the surface
characterized by intensity
Translations to be checked
Noun
profound (uncountable)
- (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
1638, George Sandys, A Paraphrase vpon the Divine Poems, Exodvs 15:God, in the fathomlesse profound / Hath all his choice Commanders drown'd.
- (obsolete) An abyss.
1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 976-980:[…] if some other place, / From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King / Possesses lately, thither to arrive / travel this profound. Direct my course […]
Adjective
profound m (oblique and nominative feminine singular profounde)
- (late Anglo-Norman) Alternative spelling of profont