adherent
Americannoun
adjective
Synonym Usage
See follower.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of adherent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin adhērent-, from Latin adhaerent-, stem of adhaerēns “sticking to,” present participle of adhaerēre “to stick to”; equivalent to adhere + -ent
Explanation
Because an adherent is usually something or someone that sticks to something or someone else, it's logical that it can also mean a person who believes in and supports a certain philosophy or leader. An adherent to a cause can be called a disciple, one who believes and tries to get others to believe. It can also refer to a material that sticks to other things. While the first meaning comes from the 15th century, the reference to a sticky substance didn't emerge until the 16th. In all cases, the word comes from the Latin root haerēre "stick," connected to the prefix ad- "to," making the word mean "to stick to."
Vocabulary lists containing adherent
Things Fall Apart
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Between the World and Me
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The Islamic World and South Asia, Lessons 3–5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is expected that the 55 Adherent Powers will sign this protocol and send the necessary individual invitations to the U. S. to "come on in."
From Time Magazine Archive
But the Adherent Powers of the World Court ignored the Senate's labors until September, and then swathed the U. S. reservations with counter-reservations.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Single Adherent nodded his head as he said to himself: 'This is just about what I expected.'
From John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein by Stockton, Frank Richard
Adherent of the Revolution, she considered Marat as being responsible for the elimination of the Girondists and the establishment of the terror.
From The French Revolution - Volume 2 by Durand, John
Pavement layer Adherent gemmules arranged close together in a single layer at the base of a sponge.
From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
