adamasn.
/ˈadəməs/, U.S. /ˈædəməs/ Now historical.
A very hard substance mentioned by Pliny and other classical writers, variously identified (cf. adamant n.). Formerly also (without reference to classical writers): †a diamond (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > magnetism > magnetic devices or materials > [noun] > a magnet or loadstone > natural opposite of
adamasa1398
adamant1567
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvi. viii. 833 This stoon is..oþer þan a magnas, for if adamas is ysette by yren, it suffreþ nouȝt þe yren come to þe magnas.
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 44v [It] impressed forsoþ sich a fourme in þe aier & in oþer elementez þat, as þe adamas [L. adamas; ?c1425 Paris adamaunde] moueþ yren, Also it moued humourez grosse, aduste, & venenous.
a1500 in J. Evans & M. S. Serjeantson Eng. Mediaeval Lapidaries (1933) 61 (MED) Stones..of vertues commendable, As Alabanstre..Adamas.
1684 I. Mather Ess. for Recording Illustrious Providences 73 There is a certain stone called pantarbe, which draws gold unto it; so does the adamas hairs and twigs.
1764 R. James Pharmacopœia Universalis (ed. 3) iii. iii. 296/2 Gems or precious Stones... The principal of these Substances are the Adamas or Diamond, the Beryll, [etc.].
1800 tr. F. A. C. Gren Princ. Mod. Chem. II. x. 155 By way of appendix, I add the diamond (adamas) to the coaly substances of the mineral kingdom.
1874 H. M. Westropp Man. Precious Stones 61 Pliny mentions other varieties of adamas, which were undoubtedly all white sapphires.
1912 D. Osborne Engraved Gems, Signets, Talismans & Ornamental Intaglios iii. i. 271 The consensus of the best opinions is that the adamas, of which Pliny says there were six kinds, was a variety of corundum, probably our white sapphire.
1979 Gesta 18 57/1 We know from Pliny that with the exception of ‘adamas’ (possibly diamonds), the Romans considered the pearl the most valuable of all jewels.
1991 E. S. Connell Alchymist's Jrnl. (1992) 135 There is one called Adamas, which the English have named Diamond, with a very sparkling color and impossible to crush.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.a1398