Adam — English Dictionary

Proper noun

1. The first man and the progenitor of the human race.

   Examples

   And Adam called his wiues name Eue, because she was the mother of all liuing.

   Say Goddeſs, what enſu'd when Raphael, / The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd / Adam by dire example to beware / Apoſtaſie,

2. A male given name from Hebrew.

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   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.

   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.

   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,

   More examples (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.

3. Original sin or human frailty.

   Usage

   • Figurative

4. Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice, in Christian theology, makes possible the forgiveness of Adam's original sin.

   Usage

   • usually
   • with modifiers such as second or last

   Examples

   And so it is written: The first man Adam was made a liuing soule, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

   Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in thy love.

   More examples (1)

   Christ, the true and better Adam, Son of God and Son of man; Who, when tempted in the garden never yielded, never sinned.

5. Designating a neoclassical style of furniture and architecture in the style of Robert and James Adam.

   Related words

   EveEdomEsau

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   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.

   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.

6. An English surname originating as a patronymic.

7. A Scottish surname originating as a patronymic.

8. A French surname originating as a patronymic.

9. A German surname originating as a patronymic.

10. The drug ecstasy.

    Usage

    • Slang

    Examples

    I prefer to call it "Adam." "Ecstasy" is a beautiful word, but I think Ecstasy is a word more often used by people taking it for thrills.

    I heard people say they were taking "Adam." Is that the same drug or something different? Ecstasy goes by many different names […]

Noun

1. street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine

   Synonyms

   ecstasyXTCgodisco biscuitcristalXhug drug

   Broader terms

   methylenedioxymethamphetamineMDMA