Relating to or existing in the deepest parts of the ocean, especially the zone between 1,000 and 6,000 meters deep.
From Greek 'bathys' meaning deep, plus the suffix '-mal' relating to a specific zone. The term emerged in the 19th century as oceanographers developed new ways to describe different ocean depths.
This word is part of an entire family of Greek-based terms that oceanographers use to describe ocean zones—bathypelagic, bathysmal, bathyspheric—each marking a different depth where light disappears and pressure becomes crushing enough to affect living things fundamentally.
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