Adam

[ ad-uhm a-dahn ]

noun

1. the name of the first man, according to the Bible: husband of Eve and progenitor of the human race.
2. A·dolphe Charles [a, -, dawlf, sh, a, r, l], 1803–56, French composer of comic opera and ballet music.
3. James, 1730–94, and his brother Robert, 1728–92, English architects and furniture designers.
4. Lam·bert Si·gis·bert [lah, n, -, ber, see-zheez-, ber], 1700–59, and his brother Ni·cho·las Sé·bas·tien [nee-kaw-, lah, sey-bahs-, tyan], 1705–78, French sculptors.
5. a first name.

adjective

1. of or relating to the style of architecture, decoration, or furnishings associated with Robert and James Adam, characterized by free adaptation of ancient Roman forms and interiors treated with delicate ornament generally painted in light, vivid colors.

Adam

¹

noun

1. adɑ̃ AdamAdolphe18031856MFrenchMUSIC: composer Adolphe. 1803–56, French composer, best known for his romantic ballet Giselle (1841)
2. ˈædəm AdamRobert17281792MScottishARCHITECTURE: architectARTS AND CRAFTS: furniture designer Robert. 1728–92, Scottish architect and furniture designer. Assisted by his brother, James, 1730–94, he emulated the harmony of classical and Italian Renaissance architecture

adjective

1. in the neoclassical style made popular by Robert Adam

Adam

²

/ ˈædəm /

noun

1. Old Testament the first man, created by God: the progenitor of the human race (Genesis 2–3)
2. not know someone from Adam
   to have no knowledge of or acquaintance with someone
3. the old Adam
   the evil supposedly inherent in human nature

Word History and Origins

Origin of Adam¹

From the Hebrew word ādhām literally, “man”

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not know from Adam, to be unacquainted with:

   He says hello to us every morning, but we don't know him from Adam.

2. the old Adam, the natural tendency toward sin:

   He attributed his wild outburst to the old Adam in him.

More idioms and phrases containing Adam

see not know from Adam .

Example Sentences

So moved by the impact of this act of kindness, Tracy shared the experience with her son, Adam, who offered to pay Jennifer’s rent for a third month.

From Time

Last year, you may recall, Fortune hosted a conversation with Waymo CEO John Krafcik, who told Adam that the company’s fleet of self-driving Pacificas and other vehicles had reached 20 million miles.

From Fortune

In a scene that is certainly too gruesome, Adam approaches the boy, watches him die, fails to follow through with a 911 call and flees.

From Washington Post

Though the team will miss Adam dearly, we are turning to the next chapter of Data Sheet.

From Fortune

Fortune senior writer Michal Lev-Ram is filling in for Adam today.

From Fortune

The scenes between Johansson and Adam Pearson, a man with neurofibromatosis, are some of the most delicate and visceral this year.

From The Daily Beast

Adam Thierer is a senior research fellow with the Technology Policy Program at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

From The Daily Beast

Nerd Cruise By Adam Rogers, Wired What 800 Nerds on a Cruise Ship Taught Me About Life, the Universe, and Snorkeling.

From The Daily Beast

“On Candyland, [Minghella] was just servicing Adam,” wrote Belgrad.

From The Daily Beast

No crimes were committed by Sony with the possible exception of all those Adam Sandler movies they insist on making.

From The Daily Beast

Dr. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, founded the secret society of the illuminati.

From Project Gutenberg

According to Bible chronology, Adam was created some six thousand years ago.

From Project Gutenberg

A culture which was complete one thousand years before Adam must have needed many thousands of years to develop.

From Project Gutenberg

It appears in nearly every book on economic theory from Adam Smith and Ricardo till to-day.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the Old Adam broke out, and he made what he called a "camp-fire" at the bottom of the garden.

From Project Gutenberg