Adorables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Referring to entities or persons that evoke feelings of delight and affection due to their charming or endearing qualities
2. Characterizing beings or objects that inspire warmth and fondness through their sweet or appealing nature
3. Describing those who possess an attractive and lovable demeanor that naturally attracts positive emotional responses

Etymology: The root of this noun lies in the adjective "adorable," which entered English in the early 17th century. "Adorable" itself comes from the Latin verb "adorare," meaning "to worship" or "to honor," derived from "ad-" (to) plus "orare" (to pray). Originally, the sense hovered around reverence and awe, emphasizing something worthy of deep respect or veneration. Over time, the meaning softened and shifted toward affection and delight. By the 18th century, "adorable" was used primarily to describe things or people inspiring love and charming admiration rather than solemn worship. This semantic shift reflects how language often moves from formal or serious origins to more everyday, emotional uses. The plural noun form, as in "adorables," is a more recent and informal development, likely emerging in the 20th century. It transforms the adjective into a collective noun, often used to affectionately refer to a group of people or things that are considered delightful or charming in character or appearance. This usage plays on the adjective's positive connotations, turning a quality into a label for those possessing it. Such formations are not unusual in English; adjectives sometimes evolve into nouns to capture groups defined by a shared trait. While "adorables" is less formal and more playful, it carries the legacy of its Latin roots filtered through centuries of linguistic evolution and cultural changes in how admiration and affection are expressed.

Synonyms: cuties, sweethearts, darlings, cherubs, lovelies

Antonyms: uglies, monsters