The word "adamant" is commonly mispronounced and misspelled. According to its IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈædəmənt/. The first letter "a" is pronounced as "ae" and the second letter "a" is pronounced as "ah". The emphasis is on the second syllable "dah". The final "t" is also pronounced, which some speakers may omit. Remembering the correct spelling and pronunciation of "adamant" is important to avoid confusion with other similar sounding words like "adament" or "adanment".
Adamant, as an adjective, refers to a firm and unyielding stance or attitude. It denotes a person who is steadfast, inflexible, and determined in their beliefs, opinions, or decisions, often in the face of opposition or persuasion. Such individuals remain resolute and unshakeable, refusing to alter their position or compromise their principles. Their unwavering conviction implies a strong and unrelenting sense of resolve, as though their steadfastness were as hard as a diamond.
Furthermore, the term "adamant" can also serve as a noun, referring to a hypothetical, extremely hard material, often associated with or compared to a diamond. This sense of the word emphasizes the notion of unbreakable hardness and indomitable strength.
Additionally, in a figurative sense, "adamant" can imply a complete lack of flexibility or compromise, emphasizing the refusal to bend or yield. This meaning can extend to situations or objects that are unchangeable or resistant to modification. In this sense, "adamant" embodies the idea of impenetrability, rigidity, and resistance to alteration.
Overall, whether describing a person's unwavering determination or the quality of an object's unyielding nature, adamant conveys a sense of resolute and unchangeable steadfastness.
What cannot be broken, tamed, or subdued; a stone or metal of impenetrable hardness.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "adamant" is derived from the Latin word "adamantem" which came from the Greek word "adamas". In Greek, "adamas" originally referred to a hard substance like steel or diamond. It is composed of the prefix "a-" meaning "not" or "un-" and "damas" meaning "to subdue" or "to tame". Thus, "adamant" initially meant "untamed" or "unable to be subdued". Over time, the meaning of the word evolved, and it is now mainly associated with unyielding or unshakeable character.