Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DEEP, a. [Sax. deop, dypa; D. diep; G. tief; Sw. diup; Dan. dyb. It seems to be allied to dip and dive, whose radical sense is to thrust or plunge. Qu. W. dwvyn.]

1. Extending or being far below the surface; descending far downward; profound; opposed to shallow; as, deep water; a deep pit or well.
2. Low in situation; being or descending far below the adjacent land; as, a deep valley.
3. Entering far; piercing a great way. A tree in a good soil takes a deep root. A spear struck deep into the flesh.
4. Far from the outer part; secreted. A spider deep ambushed in her den. – Dryden.
5. Not superficial or obvious; hidden; secret. He discovereth deep things out of darkness. – Job xii.
6. Remote from comprehension. O Lord, thy thoughts are very deep. – Ps. xcii.
7. Sagacious; penetrating; having the power to enter far into a subject; as, a man of deep thought; a deep divine.
8. Artful; contriving; concealing artifice; insidious; designing; as, a friend, deep, hollow, treacherous.
9. Grave in sound; low; as, the deep tones of an organ.
10. Very still; solemn; profound; as, deep silence.
11. Thick; black; not to be penetrated by the sight. Now deeper darkness brooded on the ground. – Hoole.
12. Still; sound; not easily broken or disturbed. The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. – Gen. ii.
13. Depressed; sunk low, metaphorically; as, deep poverty.
14. Dark; intense; strongly colored; as, a deep brown; a deep crimson; a deep blue.
15. Unknown; unintelligible. A people of deeper speech than thou canst perceive. – Is. xxxii.
16. Heart-felt; penetrating; affecting; as, a deep sense of guilt.
17. Intricate; not easily understood or unraveled; as, a deep plot or intrigue. This word often qualifies a verb, like an adverb. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. – Pope.