apt

See also apt., and ap’t

English

Etymology

From French apte, from Latin aptus, from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”); compare with Greek ἅπτειν (haptīn, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit आप्त (āpta, “fit”), from आप् (āp, “to reach, attain”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /æpt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æpt

Adjective

apt (comparative apter or more apt, superlative aptest or most apt)

1. Fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate.

   Tonight there’s a full moon, which is apt, since the election night will bring out the lunatics.

2. (of persons or things) Having a habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; disposed towards.

   This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of its leaves by a leaf-cutting ant.

3. Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn; prompt; expert; as, a pupil apt to learn; an apt scholar.

   (Can we date this quote?) An apt wit. —Johnson.

   (Can we date this quote?) (Although I) live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die. —Shakespeare

Synonyms

• disposed, predisposed, inclined, liable, tending towards
• appropriate, suitable, meet
• fit, qualified
• prompt, quick
• ready
• See also Wikisaurus:skillful

Derived terms

aptly aptness

Related terms

adept aptitude

attitude inept

Translations

fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate

Bulgarian: уместен (bg), подходящ (bg) Dutch: passend (nl), gepast (nl), toepasselijk (nl) Finnish: sopiva, omiaan (to sth) German: geeignet (de), passend (de) Japanese: 適切(てきせつ, tekisetsu)

Manx: cooie (gv) Romanian: potrivit (ro) m. and n., apt  (ro) m. and n. Russian: подходящий, соответствующий Spanish: apto (es), apropiado (es), acertado (es), oportuno (es) Swedish: passande (sv)

having an habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; disposed towards

Bulgarian: склонен (bg) Dutch: geneigd (nl) Finnish: omiaan (fi)

German: geneigt (de) Russian: склонный (ru)

ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn; prompt; expert

Bulgarian: способен (bg), възприемчив (bg) Dutch: pienter (nl), fit (nl), slim (nl) Finnish: pystyvä, lahjakas, kyvykäs

Japanese: 利発(りはつ, rihatsu) Russian: способный, понятливый

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

Ido: apta

Anagrams

• ATP, Pat, pat, PTA, TAP, tap