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Webster 1913 Edition


Apt

Apt

(ăpt)
,
Adj.
[F.
apte
, L.
aptus
, fr. obsolete
apere
to fasten, to join, to fit, akin to
apisci
to reach, attain: cf. Gr. [GREEK] to fasten, Skr.
āpta
fit, fr.
āp
to reach attain.]
1.
Fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate.
They have always
apt
instruments.
Burke.
A river . . .
apt
to be forded by a lamb.
Jer. Taylor.
2.
Having an habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; – used of things.
My vines and peaches . . . were
apt
to have a soot or smuttiness upon their leaves and fruit.
Temple.
This tree, if unprotected, is
apt
to be stripped of the leaves by a leaf-cutting ant.
Lubbock.
3.
Inclined; disposed customarily; given; ready; – used of persons.
Apter
to give than thou wit be to ask.
Beau. & Fl.
That lofty pity with which prosperous folk are
apt
to remember their grandfathers.
F. Harrison.
4.
Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn; prompt; expert;
as, a pupil
apt
to learn; an
apt
scholar.
“An apt wit.”
Johnson.
Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so
apt
to die.
Shakespeare
I find thee
apt
. . . Now, Hamlet, hear.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Fit; meet; suitable; qualified; inclined; disposed; liable; ready; quick; prompt.

Apt

,
Verb.
T.
[L.
aptare
. See
Aptate
.]
To fit; to suit; to adapt.
[Obs.]
“ To
apt
their places.”
B. Jonson.
That our speech be
apted
to edification.
Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1828 Edition


Apt

APT

,
Adj.
[L. aptus, from apto, to fit. Gr. to tie.]
1.
Fit; suitable; as, he used very apt metaphors.
2.
Having a tendency; liable; used of things; as, wheat on moist land is apt to blast or be winter-killed.
3.
Inclined; disposed customarily; used of persons; as, men are too apt to slander others.
4.
Ready; quick; used of the mental powers; as, a pupil apt to learn; an opt wit.
5.
Qualified; fit.
All the men of might, strong and apt for war. 2Kings 24.

APT

,
Verb.
T.
To fit; to suit or adapt. Obs.

Definition 2024


apt

apt

See also: APT, apt., and ap't

English

Adjective

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

  1. Suitable; appropriate; fit or fitted; suited.
    Tonight there’s a full moon, which is apt, since the election night will bring out the lunatics.
    • Jeremy Taylor (1613–1677)
      a river [] apt to be forded by a lamb
  2. (of persons or things) Having a habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; disposed towards.
    • William Temple (1628–1699)
      My vines and peaches [] were apt to have a soot or smuttiness upon their leaves and fruit.
    • John Lubbock (1834-1913)
      This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of its leaves by a leaf-cutting ant.
    • Fairfax Harrison (1869-1938)
      that lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers
  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?) Johnson
      An apt wit.
    • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
      (Although I) live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die.

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Alternative forms

Verb

apt

  1. past participle of ape