adamant

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
  2. adjective impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason; ; - W.Churchill

Etymology

From Middle English adamant, adamaunt, from Latin adamantem, accusative singular form of adamās (“hard as steel”), from Ancient Greek ἀδάμας (adámas, “invincible”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + δαμάζω (damázō, “to tame”) or of Semitic origin. Doublet of diamond.

In classic literature

Synonyms

diamond

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