a very deep wide space or hole that seems to have no bottom 深渊 Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。 They took a long look into the abyss before deciding whether to jump. 在决定是否跳下去之前,他们对深渊进行了长时间的观察。 - (figurative)
an abyss of ignorance/despair/loneliness 无知到极点;彻底绝望;无尽的孤寂 - (figurative)
The country is stepping back from the edge of an abyss. 该国临渊而退。 teetering on the edge of the abyss of total political wipeout 徘徊在彻底政治毁灭的深渊边缘
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘infernal pit’): via late Latin from Greek abussos ‘bottomless’, from a- ‘without’ + bussos ‘depth’.