Abyss vs. Limbo — What's the Difference?

An immeasurably deep chasm, depth, or void

In Catholic theology, Limbo (Latin limbus, edge or boundary, referring to the edge of Hell) is the viewpoint concerning the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. Medieval theologians of Western Europe described the underworld ("hell", "hades", "infernum") as divided into four distinct parts: Hell of the Damned, Purgatory, Limbo of the Fathers or Patriarchs, and Limbo of the Infants.

In the book of Genesis, the primeval Chaos out of which earth and sky were formed.

Often Limbo Roman Catholic Church The abode of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls, as those of infants or virtuous individuals who lived before the coming of Christ.

The abode of evil spirits; hell.

A condition of prolonged uncertainty or neglect

Hell; the bottomless pit; primeval chaos; a confined subterranean ocean.

A West Indian dance in which the dancers repeatedly bend over backward and pass under a pole that is lowered slightly with each pass.

A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable; any void space.

To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

Anything infinite, immeasurable, or profound.

(dances) To dance the limbo (etymology 2, dance).

Moral depravity; vast intellectual or moral depth.

(by extension) Often followed by under: to pass under something while bending backwards.

An impending catastrophic happening.

The place, thought to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the place where each category of souls exists, regarded separately.

(heraldry) The center of an escutcheon.

(by extension)

(oceanography) The abyssal zone.

Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

(figurative) A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.

Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup.

A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep, immeasurable, and, specifically, hell, or the bottomless pit.

Synonym of Hadesor Hell

Infinite time; a vast intellectual or moral depth.

Synonym of pawn

The center of an escutcheon.

A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels.

A bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down.

An spiritual region where certain classes of souls were supposed to await the last judgment.

Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as, to put a man in limbo.

A state of waiting, or uncertainty, in which final judgment concerning the outcome of a decision is postponed, perhaps indefinitely; neglect for an indefinite time; as, the proposal was left in limbo while opponents and proponents refused to compromise.

A border or margin; as, the limbus of the cornea.

A West Indian dance contest, in which participants must dance under a pole which is lowered successively until only one participant can successfully pass under, without falling. It is often performed at celebrations, such as weddings.

The state of being disregarded or forgotten

An imaginary place for lost or neglected things

(theology) in Roman Catholicism, the place of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls (such as infants and virtuous individuals)