ADONAI, אֲדֹנֵי, Lord, Master, old plural form of the noun adon, similar to that with the suffix of the first person ; used as the pluralis excellentiae by way of dignity for the name of Jehovah. The similar form, with the suffix, is also used of men ; as of Joseph's master, Gen. xxxix. 2, 3, seq. — of Joseph himself, Gen. xlii. 30. 33 ; so Isaiah xix. 4. The Jews, out of superstitious reverence for the name Jehovah, always, in reading, pronounced Adonai where Jehovah is written ; hence the letters mm are usually written with the points belonging to Adonai. See Jehovah.