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A.Word.A.Day--adamantine

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adamantine (ad-uh-MAN-teen, -tin) adjective

1. Unyielding or firm.

2. Like a diamond in hardness or luster.

[From Middle English, from Old French adamaunt, from Latin adamas, adamant, hard metal, steel, diamond, etc., from Greek adamas, adamant, a- not + daman, to conquer.]

"They become adamantine critics whose distrust of power (governmental power, at any rate) is absolute." David Aaronovitch, Excuse Me, But What's Wrong With Being Pro-Government?, The Independent (London, UK) Dec 24, 1999.

This week's theme: words to describe people.

X-Bonus

To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of life -- this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do. -Charles Dudley Warner, author, editor, and publisher (1829-1900)

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