Gadarene

G2A1D2A1R1E1N1E1
UK/ˈɡadəɹiːn/

adjective

Of or pertaining to the ancient city of Gadara (near modern-day Umm Qais, in Jordan).

OriginLate Latin Gadarēnus ← Ancient Greek Γαδαρηνός →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

adjectiveGadarene (comparative more Gadarene, superlative most Gadarene)

comparative more Gadarene · superlative most Gadarene

  1. Of or pertaining to the ancient city of Gadara (near modern-day Umm Qais, in Jordan).
  2. Headlong, as of a flight or rush (with reference to the swine of Matthew VIII:28-32.).

    Television is a key influence on social culture, yet what it provides is increasingly dominated by the Gadarene rush to grab viewers.

    2000, Greg Philo, The Guardian, letter, 28 Aug 2000
    1 more example

    A gadarene rush to convert from paper to specie in early 1720, led by Law's erstwhile cronies among the court aristocracy, underlined the point.

    2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 68

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
gadarean

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΓαδαρηνός“inhabitant of Gadara”
  2. Late LatinGadarēnus
  3. EnglishGadarene

From the Late Latin Gadarēnus, from the Ancient Greek Γαδαρηνός (Gadarēnós, “inhabitant of Gadara”), from Γάδαρα (Gádara, “Gadara”, now “Umm Qais”).

More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Gadarene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadarene

MLA

“Gadarene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadarene. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gadarene,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadarene.

Source: Gadarene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.