admah
Very Low / ArchaicLiterary, Biblical, Historical, Poetic
Definition
Meaning
The name of one of the five 'cities of the plain' destroyed alongside Sodom and Gomorrah in the biblical Book of Genesis.
Used in modern contexts as an archetypal reference to a city or place that is utterly and divinely destroyed, often symbolizing complete annihilation or divine judgment. It can serve as a literary metaphor for total ruin.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Admah" is a proper noun with highly specific cultural and religious referents. Its modern usage is almost exclusively allusive, drawing on its biblical destruction. It carries strong connotations of catastrophic, divinely-ordained punishment and total obliteration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The reference is equally archaic and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of biblical destruction and utter ruin.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both regions, confined to theological, literary, or historical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Place/Entity] was destroyed/like/condemned as AdmahVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go the way of Admah (to be utterly destroyed)”
- “As lost as Admah”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, biblical studies, and literary analysis to discuss themes of divine punishment or as a historical reference.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used by someone making a deliberate, learned biblical allusion.
Technical
May appear in archaeological or historical texts referring to the Bronze Age Levant.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- (extremely rare, poetic) The Admah-like fate of the empire was foretold.
American English
- (extremely rare, poetic) He described the bombed city in Admah-esque terms.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the Bible, God destroyed the city of Admah.
- The prophet warned that the nation's corruption could lead to a fate like that of Admah.
- The poet invoked the spectre of Admah and Zeboiim to illustrate the totality of the war's devastation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ADamah (Hebrew for 'ground, earth') -> Admah was returned to the earth/ground through destruction.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVINE PUNISHMENT IS TOTAL ANNIHILATION; A WICKED PLACE IS A DESTROYED CITY (Admah).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "ад" (ad - hell). Admah is a specific place, not a general concept of the underworld.
- Not a common word; direct translation will likely be unrecognizable without cultural context.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'an admah of corruption'). It is a proper noun.
- Misspelling as 'Adamah' (the Hebrew word for soil) or 'Adama'.
- Pronouncing with a strong second syllable stress (/ædˈmɑː/).
Practice
Quiz
In modern usage, 'Admah' primarily serves as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Admah is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Deuteronomy, Hosea) as one of the Cities of the Plain. Its exact historical location is unknown and debated by scholars.
No. Its use is highly specialized and literary. Using it in casual conversation would likely confuse listeners unless they are familiar with the biblical reference.
According to the Bible, the cities destroyed were Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (though Zoar was spared).
While both were destroyed, 'Sodom' is far more commonly used in language and idiom (e.g., 'sodomy', 'Sodom and Gomorrah'). Admah is a much more obscure reference, known mainly to those with specific biblical knowledge.