Adamitism en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *ʔadam- Hebrew אָדָםbor. Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám)bor. Latin Ādāmlbor. Old English Adam Middle English Adam English Adam Proto-Indo-European *-tósder. Ancient Greek -της (-tēs)der. Ancient Greek -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs)der. Latin -ītēslbor. French -iteder. English -ite Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English Adamitism From Adam + -ite + -ism.
Meanings
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(uncountable) Any of a variety of Christian sects or cults that advocated nudity as an expression of human perfection.
Thus Adamitism might be regarded as a kind of terminal point; while preserving the doctrines of both chiliasm and Pikartism, it found its true center of gravity in the full and open cult of the deified self.
1970, Sylvia Lettice Thrupp, Millennial Dreams in Action, page 182:We may infer from these passages that Adamitism still survived into the mid-1420s, although the main body of the sect had been liquidated in 1421; the survivors evidently made good use of the quasi-Pikart eucharistic doctrine
1964, Studies in Medieval and Renaissance History, page 136:He ordered them both to strip to the skin, then addressed them as follows: "That as he perceived that neither of them had any religion before, 'twas proper they should begin to have some, and therefore out of charity to their souls, he had converted them to Adamitism.
1814, Charles Johnson, William Davis, The History of the Lives and Actions of the Most Famous Highwaymen, Street-Robbers, &c. &c. &c., page 433:
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(obsolete, uncountable) The advocacy or practice of public nudity.
In what environment these lads were found it boots not to tell ; such habiliments or parts of garments as they possess threaten at any moment to give way and leave them in a state of Adamitism not to be thought of with unconcern.
1893, The Young Woman - Volume 2, page 71:It was easy enough to leave off drinking sugar in her tea, but it was difficult to leave off materials constructed of cotton, and Miss Congreve was driven to the verge of Adamitism.
1861, Bracebridge Hemyng, The Dark Cloud with the Silver Lining, page 87:A few years ago, all sane people would have said that Adamitism was quite as mad as Anthropophagy. A banker walking down the streets with no clothes on would have been quite as nonsensical as a butcher selling man instead of mutton.
1929, G. K. Chesterton, The Thing: Why I am a Catholic:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| adamitism | alternative, rare | lexicographic |