profound

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɹəˈfaʊnd/ See IPA manual

Freq #7630

Meanings

1

adj
Very great or intense; deeply felt.

The news had a profound effect on the whole community.
2

adj
Showing deep insight or serious thought.

The book offers a profound analysis of human nature.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

deep-grounded

Word family

Forms profounderprofoundest

Derived forms profoundlyprofoundnesspseudoprofoundultraprofoundunprofound

Related forms profundicateprofundifyprofundity

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Profound entered English in the Middle Ages with the sense “deep.” It ultimately belongs to the family of Latin fundus, “bottom, base.”

Etymology

From Middle English profound, profounde, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, profonde, from Latin profundus (“deep, profound”), from prō + fundus (“bottom; foundation”).

*per- Proto-Indo-European profound Middle English profont Old French profundus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# profound

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /pɹəˈfaʊnd/
**Frequency rank:** 7630

## Meanings
1. Very great or intense; deeply felt.
2. Showing deep insight or serious thought.

## Examples
- The news had a profound effect on the whole community.
- The book offers a profound analysis of human nature.

## Synonyms
- deep-grounded

## Derived Forms
- profoundly
- profoundness
- pseudoprofound
- ultraprofound
- unprofound

## Related Forms
- profundicate
- profundify
- profundity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *per-
- Root: profound
- Root: profont
- Root: profundus

## Etymology
From Middle English profound, profounde, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, profonde, from Latin profundus (“deep, profound”), from prō + fundus (“bottom; foundation”).

## AI Etymology
Profound is from Middle English profound, profounde, from Anglo-Norman profound, from Old French profont, profonde, from Latin profundus (“deep, profound”), from prō + fundus (“bottom; foundation”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean very great or intense; deeply felt, or showing deep insight or serious thought. Related forms include profundicate, profundify, profundity. Derived formations include profoundly, profoundness, pseudoprofound, ultraprofound, unprofound.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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