Etymology

Proper noun

1. The first man in the Bible and the Qur'an, said to be the progenitor of the human race.
2. .
3. Original sin or human frailty.

Quotations

• 1611 — King James Version of the Bible, Genesis 3:20

  And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

• 1667 — John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book VII

  Say Goddess, what ensu’d when Raphael,
  The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarn'd
  Adam by dire example to beware
  Apostasie,

• 1739 — Charles Wesley, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

  Second Adam from above,
  Reinstate us in thy love.

• 1859 — George Eliot, Adam Bede, ch 1

  Adam Bede was a Saxon, and justified his name; but the jet-black hair, made the more noticeable by its contrast with the light paper cap, and the keen glance of the dark eyes that shone from under strongly marked, prominent and mobile eyebrows, indicated a mixture of Celtic blood.

• 1904 — Mark Twain, Extracts from Adam's Diary

  Since then I have deciphered some more of Adam’s hieroglyphics, and think he has now become sufficiently important as a public character to justify this publication.

• 1933 Eleanor Farjeon, Over the Garden Wall,Faber and Faber 1933, page 90 ("Boys' Names")

  What splendid names for boys there are! / There's Carol like a rolling car, / And Martin like a flying bird, / And Adam like the Lord's First Word,

See also

• Eve
• Wikipedia article on Adam and Eve
• Wikipedia article on original sin
• Edom