a ‧ byss /əˈbɪs/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: abyssus , from Greek , from abyssos 'bottomless' , from a- 'without' + byssos 'depth' ]
1 . a very dangerous or frightening situation
abyss of
The country might plunge into the abyss of economic ruin.
At that time Bosnia was standing on the edge of an abyss.
2 . a deep empty hole in the ground
3 . a very big difference that separates two people or groups:
the gaping abyss between these grand buildings and my own miserable home