The action or process of adhering to a surface or object, or the attachment or commitment to a person, cause, or belief. In medicine, it refers to abnormal joining of tissues.
From Latin 'adhaesio,' from 'adhaerere' meaning 'to stick to,' composed of 'ad-' (to) + 'haerere' (to stick). Entered English in the 17th century, initially in physical and later in metaphorical contexts.
The word 'adhesion' beautifully captures how physical sticking becomes a metaphor for loyalty and commitment - we 'adhere' to principles the same way tape adheres to surfaces. The medical meaning of unwanted tissue joining adds a darker dimension to this otherwise positive concept.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.