Old Testament word for "God," used as a substitute for the ineffable name, late 14c., from Medieval Latin, from Hebrew, literally "my lord," from adon (see Adonis) + suffix of the first person.
Entries linking to adonai
Adonis n.
"beautiful young man," 1620s, probably via French Adonis (15c.), from Greek Adōnis, name of the youth beloved by Aphrodite, from Phoenician adon "lord," probably originally "ruler," from base a-d-n "to judge, rule." Adonai is the Hebrew cognate.