Adam
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Page categories
English
Etymology
From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”), from אדמה (adamah, “red earth, ground”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈæ.dəm/
- (General American) IPA(key): [ˈæɾm̩], [ˈæɾəm]
Audio (UK): (file) - Homophone: atom (accents with flapping)
- Hyphenation: A‧dam
Proper noun
Adam (plural Adams)
- (Abrahamism, religion) The first man and the progenitor of the human race.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 3:20:
- And Adam called his wiues name Eue, because she was the mother of all liuing.
- 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 40–43:
- Say Goddeſs, what enſu'd when Raphael, / The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd / Adam by dire example to beware / Apoſtaſie,
- A male given name from Hebrew.
- 1859, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “The Workshop”, in Adam Bede […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book first, page 3:
- In his tall stalwartness Adam Bede was a Saxon, and justified his name; but the jet-black hair, made the more noticeable by its contrast with the light paper cap, and the keen glance of the dark eyes that shone from under strongly marked, proninent, and mobile eyebrows, indicated a mixture of Celtic blood.
- 1904, Mark Twain, Extracts from Adam's Diary:
- Since then I have deciphered some more of Adam’s hieroglyphics, and think he has now become sufficiently important as a public character to justify this publication.
- 1933, Eleanor Farjeon, “Boys' Names”, in Over the Garden Wall, Faber and Faber, page 90:
- What splendid names for boys there are! / There's Carol like a rolling car, / And Martin like a flying bird, / And Adam like the Lord's First Word,
- 2023 June 21, Haley Talbot and Kristin Wilson, “House votes to censure Democratic congressman who led Trump investigations”, in CNN[1]:
- The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, a key lawmaker in Democrats’ congressional investigations into former President Donald Trump during his presidency.
- (figuratively) Original sin or human frailty.
- (with second or last) Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice, in Christian theology, makes possible the forgiveness of Adam's original sin.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 15:45:
- And so it is written: The first man Adam was made a liuing soule, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
- 1739, Charles Wesley, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing:
- Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
- Designating a neoclassical style of furniture and architecture in the style of Robert and James Adam.
- 1936, HP Lovecraft, The Haunter of the Dark:
- Inside were six-panelled doors, wide floor-boards, a curving colonial staircase, white Adam-period mantels, and a rear set of rooms three steps below the general level.
- 2001, Norman K. Risjord, Representative Americans: The Revolutionary Generation, page 164:
- McIntyre's best pieces, such as the fireplace in the Otis house, managed to convey both an opulent warmth and a restrained elegance, and compares favorably with the artistic saturnalia of an Adam fireplace.
- An English surname originating as a patronymic.
- A Scottish surname originating as a patronymic.
- A French surname originating as a patronymic.
- A German surname originating as a patronymic.
Alternative forms
- (English surname): Adams
- (Scottish surname): Adams, McAdam, McAdams, McCaw, MacAdam, MacAdams, MacCaw
Derived terms
- Adam and Eve
- Adam and Steve
- Adamesque
- Adamhood
- Adamian
- Adamic, Adamical
- Adamish
- Adamite
- Adamitism
- Adamless
- Adam-ondi-Ahman
- Adam's ale
- Adam's apple
- Adam's Bridge
- Adam's flannel
- Adam's morsel
- Adam's needle
- Adam's Peak
- Adamstown
- Adam's wine
- apple of Adam
- as old as Adam, old as Adam
- Atkin (diminutive)
- Charlton Adam
- Christmas Adam
- co-Adamite
- not know someone from Adam
- Old Adam
- pre-Adamite
- pre-Adamitism
- since Adam was a boy
Related terms
Descendants
- Tok Pisin: Adam
Translations
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See also
Anagrams
Albanian
Etymology
From Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”), from אדמה (adamah, “red earth, ground”).
Proper noun
Adam m (definite Adami)
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
- (religion, Christianity) (biblical figure)
- (religion, Islam) Adem (“Adam”)
Declension
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative | Adam | Adami | Adamë | Adamët |
| accusative | Adamin | |||
| dative | Adami | Adamit | Adamëve | Adamëve |
| ablative | Adamësh | |||
Derived terms
- Adami m (patronym)
- Adamaj (patronym)
Related terms
- Ademi m (patronym)
- Ademaj (patronym)
Catalan
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Adam m
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
- Adam (biblical figure)
Derived terms
Cornish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈædəm/
Proper noun
Adam
- Adam (biblical figure)
Czech
Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈadam]
Proper noun
Adam m anim (diminutive Adámek or Damek or Áďa)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Adam
Declension
Danish
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Proper noun
Adam
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name
Dutch
Etymology
From Middle Dutch Adam, from Latin Ādām, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), from Hebrew אָדָם (“Adam”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈaː.dɑm/
Audio: (file) - Hyphenation: Adam
Proper noun
Adam m
- Adam (Biblical character, mythological first man)
- a male given name from Hebrew
Derived terms
Ewe
Etymology
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew אָדָם (adám, “man, human being”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /á.dàm/, [á.d̪àm]
Proper noun
Ádàm
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
- (biblical, Abrahamism, religion) Adam
- Coordinate term: Xawa (“Eve”)
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a.dɑ̃/
Audio (Paris): (file)
Proper noun
Adam m
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name; diminutive forms Adanet, Adenot, Adnet, Adnot
Derived terms
Descendants
- → Vietnamese: A-đam
Anagrams
German
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Adam, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), from Hebrew אָדָם (ʾāḏām, “man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈaːdam/
Audio: (file)
Proper noun
Adam m (proper noun, strong, genitive Adams)
- (biblical) Adam
- a male given name; variant form Adi
Hausa
Etymology
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Adàm m
- Adam (biblical character)
Derived terms
Icelandic
Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Proper noun
Adam m (proper noun, genitive singular Adams)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name
Declension
| indefinite singular | |
|---|---|
| nominative | Adam |
| accusative | Adam |
| dative | Adam |
| genitive | Adams |
Derived terms
See also
References
- Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989) Íslensk orðsifjabók, Reykjavík: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, →ISBN (Available at Málið.is under the “Eldri orðabækur” tab.)
- Kristín Bjarnadóttir, editor (2002–2025), “Adam”, in Beygingarlýsing íslensks nútímamáls [The Database of Modern Icelandic Inflection] (in Icelandic), Reykjavík: The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies
- Mörður Árnason (2019) Íslensk orðabók, 5th edition, Reykjavík: Forlagið
Anagrams
Italian
Etymology
Alteration of MDMA.
Noun
Adam m (invariable)
- (informal) ecstasy (drug)
Anagrams
Kashubian
Alternative forms
- Adóm, (Dialectal) Jadam
Etymology
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.dam/
- Rhymes: -adam
- Syllabification: A‧dam
Proper noun
Adam m pers (related adjective adamów or adamòwi)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
Further reading
- Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011) “Adam”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi[2]
Latin
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם, from א־ד־ם.
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈaː.dãː]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈaː.d̪am]
Proper noun
Ādām m sg (indeclinable)
- Adam (Biblical figure)
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
Declension
Indeclinable noun, singular only.
| singular | |
|---|---|
| nominative | Ādām |
| genitive | Ādām |
| dative | Ādām |
| accusative | Ādām |
| ablative | Ādām |
| vocative | Ādām |
Descendants
References
- “Adam”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- Adam in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Lombard
Etymology
Proper noun
Adam m
- (Old Lombard) Adam (biblical character)
Descendants
- Lombard: Adamm
Malay
Etymology
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [a.dam]
- Rhymes: -dam, -am
- Hyphenation: A‧dam
Proper noun
Adam (Jawi spelling ادم)
- (Abrahamism, religion) The first man and the progenitor of the human race.
- a male given name from Arabic
Compounds
- anak Adam
- bani Adam
- cucu Adam
- kulit Adam
Further reading
- “Adam” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.
Maltese
Etymology
From Sicilian Adamu, Addamu and/or Italian Adamo, both from Latin Ādāmus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), from Hebrew אָדָם (āḏām). All religious names (though not all religious words) in Maltese are borrowings from Romance. The inherited form from Arabic آدَم (ʔādam) would be *Iedem, which is preserved in bniedem (“human being”, literally “son of Adam”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈdaːm/
Audio (Gozo): (file) - Rhymes: -aːm
Proper noun
Adam m
Derived terms
Middle English
Etymology
From Old English Adam, from Latin Ādāmus, Ādām, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew אָדָם (adam).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈdaːm/, /ˈadam/
Proper noun
Adam
- Adam (Biblical progenitor of humankind).
- a male given name from Hebrew; Adam
- (with newe or last) Jesus Christ.
Descendants
- English: Adam, Adams, Adams, McAdam, McAdams, McCaw, MacAdam, MacAdams, MacCaw
- Tok Pisin: Adam
- Scots: Adam
References
- “Adā̆m, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 15 July 2019.
Middle High German
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin Ādām, borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם, from א־ד־ם.
Proper noun
Adam m
- a male given name
- (Abrahamism, biblical) Adam
Declension
Descendants
References
- Benecke, Georg Friedrich, Müller, Wilhelm, Zarncke, Friedrich (1863) “Adam”, in Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch: mit Benutzung des Nachlasses von Benecke, Stuttgart: S. Hirzel
- "Adam" in Köbler, Gerhard, Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch (3rd edition 2014)
Norwegian
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Proper noun
Adam
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name
Old English
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin Ādām, borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם, from א־ד־ם.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɑ.dɑm/
Proper noun
Adam m
- Adam (Biblical character)
Declension
Strong a-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Adam | — |
| accusative | Adam | — |
| genitive | Adames | — |
| dative | Adame | — |
Descendants
- Middle English: Adam
Polish
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.dam/
Audio: (file) - Rhymes: -adam
- Syllabification: A‧dam
Proper noun
Adam m pers (diminutive Adaś)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam
Declension
Further reading
- Adam in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from Old Church Slavonic Адамъ (Adamŭ).
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Proper noun
Adam m
Scots
Etymology
From Middle English Adam, from Latin Ādāmus, Ādām, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám).
Proper noun
Adam
- Adam (biblical figure)
Derived terms
References
- “Adam, prop.n.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC.
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ǎdam/
- Hyphenation: A‧dam
Proper noun
Àdam m anim (Cyrillic spelling А̀дам)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name
Declension
See also
Further reading
- “Adam”, in Portal suvremenih hrvatskih osobnih imena [Portal of contemporary Croatian personal names] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2018–2025
Slovak
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈadam]
Proper noun
Adam m pers
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name
Declension
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Adam | Adamovia |
| genitive | Adama | Adamov |
| dative | Adamovi | Adamom |
| accusative | Adama | Adamov |
| locative | Adamovi | Adamoch |
| instrumental | Adamom | Adamami |
Derived terms
Further reading
- “Adam”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈdam/ [aˈð̞ãm]
- Rhymes: -am
- Syllabification: A‧dam
Proper noun
Adam m
- archaic form of Adán (“biblical figure”)
- 1602, La Santa Biblia (antigua versión de Casiodoro de Reina), Génesis 2:20:
- Y puso Adam nombres á toda bestia y ave de los cielos y á todoanimal del campo.
- And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; […] (KJV)
Swedish
Etymology
From Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Interjection
Adam
- The letter "A" in the Swedish spelling alphabet
Proper noun
Adam c (genitive Adams)
- Adam (biblical figure)
- a male given name; diminutive form Adde
References
Tok Pisin
Etymology
Proper noun
Adam
Turkish
Etymology
Proper noun
Adam
- a male given name from Arabic, less common variant of Adem
Walloon
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a.ˈdam/
Proper noun
Adam
- (biblical)
- a male given name, equivalent to English Adam