adhere

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to follow through or carry out a plan without deviation

   They adhered to their plan.

2. 2
   verb

   to stick to firmly

   Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?

3. 3
   verb

   to be loyal to

   I adhere by those standards and those standards only.

4. 4
   verb

   to be a devoted follower or supporter

   The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism.

5. 5
   verb

   to be compatible or in accordance with

   You must adhere to the rules.

6. 6
   verb

   To stick fast or cleave, as a glutinous substance does; to become joined or united.

   Wax adhered to his finger.

7. 7
   verb

   To be attached or devoted by personal union, in belief, on principle, etc.

   Upon the whole, if, by the British dominions, you mean territories subject to the Parliament, you adhere to your usual fallacy, and suppose what you are bound to prove.

8. 8
   verb

   To be consistent or coherent; to be in accordance; to agree.

   For the most part, Hefner's female companions all adhered to the same mold: twentysomething, bosomy and blonde. "Well, I guess I know what I like," he once said when asked about his preferences.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin haereō Latin adhaereōder. Middle English *adheren English adhere From Middle English *adheren (suggested by Middle English adherande (“adhering, adherent”, present participle)), from Latin adhaerēre, adhaesum: ad (“to”) + haerēre (“to stick”). Compare French adhérer.