adullamite
Rare / ObsoleteHistorical / Formal / Literary / Political
Definition
Meaning
A political rebel or dissenter, especially one who leaves a party to join a faction.
A person who withdraws from a group due to disagreement or discontent; a seceder. Historically, used specifically for a group of British Liberal Party rebels in 1866 who opposed their party's electoral reform proposals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has very strong historical and biblical connotations. Its modern use is almost exclusively metaphorical or allusive, drawing directly from its 19th-century political or biblical origins. It implies not just disagreement, but a dramatic, principled secession.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in British politics (1866). Its use is almost entirely historical in BrE. In AmE, it is exceedingly rare and would likely only be used in scholarly or highly literate contexts, often with explicit reference to its British origin.
Connotations
BrE: Strong historical/political connotation (the Cave of Adullam group). AmE: Primarily a biblical/literary allusion if used at all.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the Adullamitesan Adullamitebecame/joined the AdullamitesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cave of Adullam (the figurative place where Adullamites gather)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical/political studies discussing 19th-century British politics or as a literary/biblical allusion.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His Adullamite tendencies finally led him to cross the floor.
American English
- The senator's Adullamite stance isolated him from his party's leadership.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The rebel MPs were labelled Adullamites by the press.
- The prime minister's controversial policy risked creating a new Cave of Adullam within his own party, as several senior figures hinted they might become Adullamites.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A-DULL-amite. A person who finds the party 'dull' or unsatisfactory and leaves to make their own, more exciting (or contentious) group.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL DISSENT IS A SECESSION TO A CAVE (a place of refuge for the discontented).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it literally as 'адулламит'. It is a culture-specific term. Use a descriptive phrase like 'политический диссидент/отщепенец' or reference 'фракция недовольных'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe any critic (it requires an act of secession).
- Spelling: 'Adulamite', 'Adullamit'.
- Mispronouncing the 'dull' part as /duːl/ instead of /dʌl/.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of an Adullamite?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the Bible (1 Samuel 22:1-2), where David fled to the Cave of Adullam and was joined by others in distress or debt. The term was applied metaphorically to British political rebels in 1866 by John Bright.
No, it is a historical term. It might be used occasionally in journalism or commentary as a learned allusion to political rebellion, but it is not part of contemporary political vocabulary.
No, standard usage is only as a noun or, rarely, an adjective. There is no attested verb form 'to adullamite'.
An Adullamite is a specific type of rebel—one who not only rebels but actively withdraws or secedes from a larger group (like a political party) to form or join a faction of the discontented.