— adamancy /ad"euh meuhn see/ , adamance , n. — adamantly , adv.
/ad"euh meuhnt, -mant'/ , adj.
1. utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.
2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.
n.
3. any impenetrably or unyieldingly hard substance.
4. a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness, formerly sometimes identified with the diamond.
[ bef. 900; ME adamaunt adamant- (s. of adamas ) hard metal (perh. steel), diamond a- A- 6 + -damant- verbal adj. of damân to tame, conquer; r. OE athamans ( aymont aimant adimant- ]
Syn. 1. inflexible, rigid, uncompromising.
Ant. 1. flexible, easygoing, yielding.