adherev.
/ədˈhɪə/, /adˈhɪə/, U.S. /ædˈhɪ(ə)r/, /ədˈhɪ(ə)r/ 1. Usually with to.
a. intransitive. To support a person (party, cause) steadfastly; to be an adherent or supporter of. Now rare and archaic.
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the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)] > be consistent
adhere1461
to hang together1553
cohere1598
refer1605
connect1753
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > fidelity or loyalty > be faithful or loyal [verb (intransitive)]
adhere1461
anere1520
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (intransitive)] > be adherent
adhere1461
anere1520
1461–2 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1461 §33. m. 15 Certeyn persones..adheryng to Henry the fourth..tirannyously murdred..the right noble and worthy lordes, [etc.].
1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. xli. 78 Much more prone to adhere to the league.
1558 J. Knox First Blast against Monstruous Regiment Women f. 51v The natiue king made streit inhibition to all his subiectes, that none shuld adhere to this traitor.
1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 11 Meane men must adheare, but great men that haue strength in themselues were better to maintaine themselues indifferent, and neutrall.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 21 Two men there is not liuing To whom he more adheres . View more context for this quotation
1690 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 124 High treason in adhering to the King's enemies.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 17 The Puritans..took more pains in their parishes than those who adhered to the Bishops.
a1794 E. Gibbon Memoirs in Misc. Wks. (1796) I. 164 From a principle of gratitude I adhered to the coalition.
1820 R. Southey Life Wesley II. 396 The greater part of the methodizing clergy adhered to Lady Huntingdon's party in the dispute.
1862 E. W. Reynolds Barons of South ii. 21 On the breaking out of the English civil war..Virginia, with Maryland, adhered to the king.
1912 J. Ayliff & J. Whiteside Hist. Abambo 12 A small section of the Amahlubi adhered to Sidinane, the great son of Mpangazita.
1990 J. B. Anderson Durham County xx. 452 Blacks, who had traditionally adhered to the party of Lincoln until switching en masse to Roosevelt in 1936, began again to vote Republican.
b. transitive (reflexive). To be an adherent or supporter of; to ally oneself with. rare.
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1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxiv. 250 We doe giue you power and authority..to prosecute..any other Offenders whatsoever that..haue combined, or adhered themselues, to any her Majesties enemies.
1746 C. Viner Gen. Abridgm. Law & Equity I. 15 He..adhered himself to the Enemies of the King.
1860 Colonial Church Chron. June 225 Would a Missionary be correct in considering the conduct of the Apostles..authority for the like conduct in the case of Mahommedans and Hindus; i.e. authority for turning away from the former, and adhering himself to the latter exclusively?
1907 Amer. Physician Aug. 191/2 This man..has now adhered himself to and with the allopathic school.
c. intransitive. To make a formal declaration of intent to abide by the terms of a treaty, join a political or economic union, etc., esp. by signing an agreement.
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1799 H. Neuman tr. F.-A.-F. de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt Trav. through United States N. Amer. II. 517 That motive [sc. the dread of involving the United States in a war with England] had influenced not only the president, but the majority of the individuals in the states, who finally adhered to the treaty.
1844 Eclectic Mag. May 48/1 They [sc. the representatives of the King of Wirtemberg] were evidently not sufficiently aware of the numerous advantages secured to Wirtemberg by the treaties to which they were the last to adhere.
1895 Ann. Rep. Postmaster-Gen. U.S. (54th Congr. 1st Sess. H.R. Doc. No. 4) 451 France signed a short time subsequently and Montenegro also adhered at once to the Treaty.
1920 Amer. Jrnl. Internat. Law 14 362 Spain finally adhered on the 18th of January 1908.
1962 A. Hourani Arabic Thought in Liberal Age xi. 294 There should be created an Arab League to which Iraq and reunited Syria would adhere immediately, and which could be joined by the Arab States at will.
2008 M. Franceschi & B. Weider Wars against Napoleon 71 The Treaty of Toeplitz, to which Britain adhered on October 30.
2. intransitive. With impersonal subject. To be or remain connected to a person or thing; to pertain to; to be associated with. Cf. cleave v.2 2.In later use sometimes influenced by sense 4.
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1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxvii. sig. Gviii She maketh a present to the suppost indicatyf discernynge without interualle the differences abstractyue adherynge to theyr subgecte.
a1559 Bp. C. Tunstall & J. Stokesley Let. R. Pole (1560) sig. C.iiv That primacie did so adhere to his owne person, that it was neuer deriued nether to any Successour, nor to other Apostle, but chiefely to him selfe.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. i. sig. G2 Most things that morally adhere to soules, Wholly exist in drunke opinion.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. xi. §2 An adverb is a word adhering mast commonlie with a verb.
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women I. iii. 89 The aukwardness, that is apt to adhere to young persons who are confined at home.
1819 J. Caulfield Portraits I. 8 He affected most of the singularities which naturally adhere to reclusive and habitual retirement.
1828 J. S. Mill in Westm. Rev. 9 155 The taint of Realism which adheres to the expression but without infecting the substance.
1926 Amer. Mercury Apr. 468/1 Something of the pioneer sturdiness adheres to these women.
1999 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 4 Feb. 14/4 As in any all-woman, or all-man gathering, a certain artificiality and self-consciousness adheres to the occasion.
3. intransitive. Usually with to.
a. Scots Law. To cohabit with one's spouse, as a fulfilment of a legal obligation. Now historical.
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society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > types of marriage custom or practice > [verb (intransitive)] > cohabit
to live together1483
adhere1525
cohabitc1530
to live in sin1838
to live (on) tally1864
shack1935
1525 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 294/1 Nocht to adheir to me, hir husband.
a1649 W. Drummond Hist. Scotl. (1655) 86 Her husband is summoned within threescore dayes to adhere to his wife under pain of Divorce: the unfortunate Earle for fear of his head, not appearing, his marraige is declared null.
1752 Scots Mag. July 348/1 She said to a friend, that she would adhere to her husband, and was willing to make up matters.
1862 Sc. Law Mag. 1 125/2 All that the Sheriff can do is to pronounce for interim aliment, which may be put an end to when the defender pleases, by his adhering to his wife.
1900 Sc. Law Reporter 37 542/2 I regard that as a sufficient and reasonable cause why the defender should refuse now to adhere to his wife.
1998 L. Leneman Alienated Affections i. 22 The commissaries agreed that she had sole entitlement to the money provided by her first husband, as long as her second one did not adhere.
b. To hold steadfastly to a belief, practice, or method; to maintain or continue to observe a custom or tradition; to persist with.Later frequently with implication of stubborn or misguided loyalty.
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the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > be constant or steadfast [verb (intransitive)] > adhere or cling to something
cleavec1330
hangc1330
adherec1550
the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > observe, adhere, or keep a promise [verb (intransitive)]
to make (hold, pay, keep, yield or break) a vowc1290
beholda1400
to hold touch (also the touches)c1400
faithc1410
withholda1450
to keep touch1541
adherec1550
as good as one's word (also promise)c1560
inhere1563
watch1608
maximize1875
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) x. 64 Til adhere til inuentit fablis.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) 5 To compel al cristianite tyl adhere to ther peruerst opinione.
1644 J. Milton in tr. M. Bucer Ivdgem. conc. Divorce To Parl. sig. B4 The..inconsistent principles of such as condemn others for adhering to traditions.
1656 J. Bramhall Replie to Refut. 42 in Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon In things not necessary a man may fluctuate safely between two opinions..without certain adherence, or adhere certainly without Faith.
1756 E. Burke Vindic. Nat. Society 82 The lawyer has his Forms and his positive Institutions too, and he adheres to them with Veneration.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. 248 The sounder and more consistent party adhere, without shame, to the literal interpretation of the Koran.
1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians II. xlviii. 110 The Chinooks..are almost the only people who strictly adhere to the custom of squeezing and flattening the head.
1876 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms 242/2 The pertinacity with which professors adhere to the expression perfect fifth and perfect fourth, and abhor the term major fifth and major fourth.
1889 Eclectic Mag. May 645/2 They [sc. the Ruthenians] adhere to the Eastern Catholic ritual, while the Poles follow that of Rome.
1922 A. S. Eddington Theory of Relativity 26 Those who adhered to the flat-earth theory must hold that the flat map gives the true size of Greenland.
1958 S. Glasstone Sourcebk. Atomic Energy (ed. 2) ii. 38 Thomson adhered to the term corpuscle for about twenty years, but ultimately he gave it up in favor of electron.
2006 Time Out N.Y. 21 Sept. 137/1 Local band Hem adheres to an outdated mode of record making.
c. To follow or observe strictly or without deviation; esp. to implement faithfully a promise or prior commitment; to make good on, fulfil. to adhere to a decision etc.: to stand by a decision; to confirm through subsequent action.
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1606 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 86 I adheir to my offeris.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. x. 75 I again put it to him, Whether he adhered to his resolution of parting with his woman?
1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra II. lxviii. 316 In one instance, the very form is adhered to.
1787 R. Polwhele Eng. Orator ii. 339 Adhere To stated Facts.
1839 Lady Lytton Cheveley (ed. 2) III. v. 107 He was determined religiously to adhere to his promise to Julia.
a1878 B. Taylor Stud. German Lit. (1879) 68 I shall adhere to the plan stated in the beginning of these lectures.
1879 Times 26 Dec. 10/3 At present the rule as to overstaffing is by no means strictly adhered to.
1902 G. S. Whitmore Last Maori War viii. 117 The officers, perhaps fearing the responsibility of a death sentence..adhered to their decision.
1967 Canad. Med. Assoc. Jrnl. 21 Oct. 1012/1 All participants..received the same ‘pep talk’ on the importance of adhering to the diet.
1990 Essentials Sept. 68/1 Any childminder should be willing to adhere to your ‘rules’ about no-go foods like sweets and crisps.
2002 B. Hoey Her Majesty xvi. 249 A strict budget is adhered to.
4.
a. intransitive. To become or remain physically attached to (also †in) something; to stick fast (to a surface or substance); (also) to stick together. Cf. cleave v.2 1.In quot. 1557: to become lodged.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > be or become attached or affixed [verb (intransitive)] > remain attached > adhere
cleavec897
to stick (cleave, cling, etc.) like a burc1330
sita1398
clinga1400
clengec1400
engleim?1440
adhere1557
clag1563
clasp1569
clencha1600
clung1601
clam1610
yclingec1620
affix1695
clinch1793
to stick (to one) like wax1809
cleam-
1557 T. Paynell tr. St. Augustine Certaine Serm. xi. sig. K.v These things the whyche we haue spoken of before may adhere & cleaue more surelye in your hartes.
1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes sig. Eiijv The excrementes and liquide matter that cleaueth and adhereth after digestion to the exteriour parte of the bodie.
1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 18 Metallick or Mineral Matter, either adhering firmly in lumps to the outsides of them.
1725 N. Robinson New Theory of Physick 7 The Particles of Matter..compactedly adhering with one another.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind v. §2. 120 When the parts of a body adhere so firmly that it cannot easily be made to change its figure, we call it hard.
1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. I. lv. 688 Iron filings placed near a magnet..adhere to each other in curved lines, by virtue of their induced magnetism.
1854 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) II. xxx. 559 A straggling village adhered to the sides of a vast ravine.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §3. 30 The fragments of snow that adhered to the staff.
1906 L. Claremont Gem-cutter's Craft 100 The diamonds adhere to the grease while the remainder of the gravel is washed away.
2001 Org. Gardening July 46/1 The flesh of a clingstone peach adheres to the pit when the fruit is cut open.
b. transitive. To attach (something) by adhesion to something else; to stick (two or more things) together; to cause to adhere.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > attach or affix [verb (transitive)] > adhere to > cause to adhere
stickc1425
clam1598
cling1606
plaster1623
beglue1658
adhere1845
clitch1863
paste1863
key1923
1845 Med. Examiner Dec. 762 The lung at this point was adhered to the chest.
1866 F. Bellew Art of Amusing xi. 123 The diachylon can be purchased in lump form of any druggist. In order to adhere it to the face, it should be slightly warmed before the fire.
1903 Agric. Gaz. New S. Wales Aug. 744 The eyes are sunken and a viscid discharge often adheres the eyelids together.
1936 H. L. Hiett Screen Process Production xv. 74 Place a sheet of wrapping paper over the vellum, and iron with a moderately warm iron. This adheres the vellum to the metal plate.
2002 Better Homes & Gardens Wood June 77/1 Adhere the pattern to a piece of ¼″ hardboard to make a template.
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society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > clarity > be clear [verb (intransitive)] > cohere
adherea1616
cohere1828
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. vii. 52 Nor time, nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. i. 59 They doe no more adhere and keep place together, then the hundred Psalms to the tune of Green-sleeues.
6. intransitive. Botany. Of an organ of a plant (esp. the inflorescence): to be or become superficially attached (adnate) to another organ or part.
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the world > plants > part of plant > growth, movement, or curvature of parts > grow, move, or curve [verb (intransitive)] > grow together
adhere1776
cohere1796
1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. I. 247 Chives. Threads ten;..shorter than the blossom, to which they slightly adhere.
1788 J. Bolton Hist. Fungusses Halifax II. 63 In the last stages of the plant, when the rim of the pileus is elevated, the claw breaks, and the gills adhere to the pileus only.
1857 A. Henfrey Elem. Course Bot. 94 Adhesion may exist between the inner and outer circles of the floral envelopes..or the calyx, corolla, and stamens may all adhere to the pistil.
1935 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 62 27 The withered stipules often adhere to the stem for several nodes below the oldest attached leaf.
2002 E. Goulding Fuchsias (new ed.) v. 40/2 The sepals are orange and these usually adhere to each other, forming little lantern-like blooms.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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