adamās
masculine
The Latin word for diamond is adamās. Wiktionary also lists gemma adamantis.
Meaning: gemstone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| adamās | masculine |
| gemma adamantis | feminine |
The term refers to the gemstone. It is rooted in the concept of something that is unbreakable or invincible.
What does it mean word for word?
The word adamās carries the literal meaning of being unconquerable or invincible.
Which one should you use?
adamās is a masculine noun used to name the gemstone itself, while gemma adamantis is a feminine phrase meaning a gem of the diamond.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase gemma adamantis, the word adamantis is the genitive singular form of adamās, which is used to show possession or a relationship, such as 'of the diamond'.
Did you know?
- The word adamās is the direct ancestor of the English word 'adamant'. While we use 'adamant' to mean 'stubborn' today, it retains the original Latin sense of being 'unyielding' and 'hard'.
- The word gemma originally referred to a botanical bud or a sprout before it was used to describe precious gemstones.
- In Latin literature, the adamās was often associated with the mythical 'adamantine' walls or weapons that were impossible to destroy.
Examples in context
- Adamās est pretiosissimus.The diamond is very precious.
- Hic adamās fulget.This diamond shines.
- Adamās in anulo est.There is a diamond in the ring.
Example conversation
Aurelia shows Quintus a piece of jewelry.
- AureliaVidesne hunc adamantem, Quinte?Do you see this diamond, Quintus?
- QuintusIta, Aurelia, pulcher est.Yes, Aurelia, it is beautiful.
- AureliaDonum carissimum mihi est.It is a very dear gift to me.
- QuintusVere lux adamantis splendet.Truly the light of the diamond shines.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diamond” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gemma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
