1531 (but not common until mid-17c.), from L. adultus, pp.
of adolescere "grow up, mature" (see adolescent). As a
euphemism for "pornographic," it dates to 1958 and does
no honor to the word. The noun meaning "adult person" is
from 1658.
adulteration
1505, from L. adulterationem (nom. adulteratio), from
adulteratus, pp. of adulterare "corrupt, debauch," from
ad- "to" + L.L. alterare "to alter" (see alter).
adultery
"voluntary violation of the marriage bed," c.1300,
avoutrie, from O.Fr. avoutrie, aoulterie, noun of
condition from avoutre/aoutre, from L. adulterare "to
corrupt" (see adulteration). Modern spelling, with the
re-inserted -d-, is from c.1415 (see ad-). Classified as
single adultery (with an unmarried person) and double
adultery (with a married person). O.E. word was æwbryce
"breach of law(ful marriage)." Adultery Dune in Arizona
corresponds to Navajo sei adilehe "adultery sand" and was
where illicit lovers met privately.
adumbration
1531, from L. adumbrationem (nom. adumbratio) "a
sketch in shadow, sketch, outline," from adumbratus, pp.
of adumbrare "to cast a shadow, overshadow, represent (a
thing) in outline," from ad- "to" + umbrare "to cast in
shadow," from PIE *andho- "blind, dark."
advance
c.1230, from O.Fr. avancer "move forward," from V.L.
*abanteare, from L.L. abante "from before," composed of
ab- "from" + ante "before, in front of, against," from PIE
*anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead."
The -d- was inserted 16c. on mistaken notion that initial a-
was L. ad-. Meaning "to give money before it is legally
due" is first attested 1679. The noun is first recorded 1528;
advances "amorous overtures" is from 1706. The adj. (in
advance warning, etc.) is not recorded before 1910.
Advanced in the fig. sense of "far ahead on a course" is
from 1534.
advantage
1330, "position of being in advance of another," from O.Fr.
avantage, from avant "before," probably via an
unrecorded L.L. *abantaticum, from L. abante (see
advance). The -d- is a 16c. intrusion on the analogy of
Latin ad- words. Meaning "a favoring circumstance" (the
opposite of disadvantage) is from 1483. Tennis score
sense is from 1641, first recorded in writings of John
Milton, of all people. Phrase to take advantage of is first
attested 1393.
advent
"important arrival," 1742, an extended sense of Advent
"season before Christmas" (O.E.), from L. adventus
"arrival," from pp. stem of advenire "arrive, come to,"
from ad- "to" + venire "to come" (see venue). Applied in
Church L. to the coming of the Savior, either the first or
the anticipated second, hence Adventist, a name applied to
millenarian sects, esp. the Millerites (U.S., 1843). In Eng.,
also sometimes extended to the Pentecost.
adventitious
"of the nature of an addition from without," 1603, from
M.L. adventitius, a corruption of L. adventicius "coming
from abroad, extraneous, foreign," from adventum, pp. of
advenire "arrive" (see Advent).
adventure
c.1230, auenture "chance, fortune, luck," from O.Fr.
auenture, from L. aventura (res) "(a thing) about to
happen," from future participle of advenire "to come
about," from ad- "to" + venire "to come" (see venue).
Original meaning was "to arrive," in Latin, but in M.E. it
took a turn through "risk/danger" (a trial of one's
chances), and "perilous undertaking" (c.1314), and thence
to "a novel or exciting incident" (1570). The -d- was
restored 15c.-16c. Venture (q.v.) is a 15c. variant.
adverb
c.1425, from L. adverbium "adverb," lit. "that which is
added to a verb," from ad- "to" + verbum "verb, word"
(see verb). Coined by Flavius Sosipater Charisius to
transl. Gk. epirrhema "adverb," from epi- "upon, on" +
rhema "verb."
adversary
1330, aduersere, from Anglo-Fr. adverser (13c.), from
O.Fr. adversier, from L. adversarius "opponent,
adversary, rival," lit. "turned toward one," from adversus
"turned against" (see adverse). The L. word is glossed in
O.E. by wiðerbroca.
adverse
c.1374, from O.Fr. avers, from L. adversus "turned
against," thus "hostile," pp. of advertere, from ad- "to" +
vertere "to turn" (see versus).
adversity
c.1230, aduersite, from O.Fr. aversite, from L.
adversitatem "opposition," from adversus (see adverse).
advertise
c.1430, "to take notice of," from M.Fr. advertiss-, prp.
stem of a(d)vertir "warn," from L. advertere "turn
toward," from ad- "toward" + vertere "to turn" see
versus). Original sense remains in advert "to give
attention to." Sense of advertise shifted to "give notice to
others, warn" (1490) by influence of advertisement, which