'adoniad' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'Adonis,' where 'Adonis' referred to a figure in Greek mythology known for his beauty.

'Adonis' transformed into the English word 'adoniad' to denote a work celebrating Adonis or someone likened to him.

Initially, it referred to works about Adonis, but over time it evolved to include any celebratory work about a person named Adonis.