Definition of ADAMANTINE

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The Greek and Latin word for the hardest imaginable substance, whether applied to a legendary stone or an actual substance, such as diamond, was "adamas." Latin poets used the term figuratively for things lasting, firm, or unbending, and the adjective "adamantinus" was used in similar contexts. The English noun "adamant" (meaning "an unbreakable or extremely hard substance"), as well as the adjective "adamant" (meaning "inflexible" or "unyielding"), came from "adamas." "Adamantine," which has such figurative uses as "rigid," "firm," and "unyielding," came from "adamantinus." "Adamas" is actually the source of "diamond" as well. "Diamas," the Latin term for diamond, was an alteration of "adamas."

Examples of adamantine in a Sentence

the adamantine opposition of his parents to his marriage to a girl from a poor family

Recent Examples on the Web

Every year The Rock is pre-painted a different color to prepare an adamantine canvas. — courant.com, "In Our Midst: St. Joseph’s Grads Create A Rock Of Ages," 9 July 2019 Some of the time identity seems to be taken as an adamantine fact: a person’s identity as a woman or a member of an ethnic minority seems to trump all other considerations. — The Economist, "The centre cannot hold - the failure of Change UK and the atrophying of political thought," 19 June 2019 This gentle, tenacious, adamantine figure has been far too little known in the West—until now. — Cynthia Haven, WSJ, "Book Review: Shouldering the Century’s Burden," 25 Jan. 2019 But not even adamantine willpower could overcome the exhaustion that Rihanna was feeling in that moment. — Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, "Rihanna on Body Image, Turning 30, and Staying Real—No Matter What," 3 May 2018 But Navalny, with adamantine determination and a canny use of social media, has spread his anti-corruption campaign deep into the provinces. — Washington Post, "Alternatives to Putin a mixed bag as Russian election looms," 25 Oct. 2017 Harrison’s music traverses a huge stylistic range, from adamantine dissonance to melodies of homespun sweetness. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, "New York Celebrates a Composer Who Left Town," 14 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adamantine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.