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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary apt
\\ˈapt\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin aptus, literally, fastened, from past participle of apere to fasten; akin to Latin apisci to grasp, obtain, apud near, Hittite ḫap- to attach
DATE 14th century
1. unusually fitted or qualified : ready proved an apt tool in the hands of the conspirators2. a. having a tendency : likely plants apt to suffer from drought b. ordinarily disposed : inclined apt to accept what is plausible as true3. suited to a purpose; especially : being to the point an apt quotation4. keenly intelligent and responsive an apt pupilSynonyms: see fit , quick Usage: see liable • apt·ly
\\ˈap(t)-lē\\ adverb• apt·ness
\\ˈap(t)-nəs\\ nounabbreviation1. apartment 2. aptitude
apt
late 14c., "suited, fitted, adapted," from L. aptus "fit, suited," pp. of *apere "to attach, join, tie to," from PIE base *ap- "to grasp, take, reach" (cf. Skt. apnoti "he reaches," L. apisci "to reach after, attain," Hitt. epmi "I seize"). Elliptical sense of "becoming, appropriate" is from 1560s; sense of "habitually liable" is from 1520s.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 apt
apt / Apt / adjective1. suitable or appropriate in the circumstances
恰当的；适当的:
a particularly apt description / name / comment
特别恰当的描述/名字/评论
2. ~ to be... | ~ to do sth likely or having a natural tendency to do sth
易于…；有…倾向:
apt to be forgetful / careless
健忘；常常粗心大意
Babies are apt to put objects into their mouths.
婴儿爱把东西往嘴里塞。
3. ~ pupil a person who has a natural ability to learn and understand
天资聪颖的人
• aptly adv.:
the aptly named Grand Hotel
名副其实的大饭店
• apt·ness noun [U]
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged aptI. \ˈapt\ adjective( usually -er/-est) Etymology: Middle English, from Latin aptus fastened, attached, suitable, from past participle of apere to fasten; akin to Latin apisci to reach, attain, apud near, Sanskrit āpta fit, āpnoti he reaches 1. : having the necessary qualifications : unusually fitted or qualified : ready , prepared < tall was he, slim, made apt for feats of war — William Morris >2. a. : having an habitual tendency or inclination : likely < the fish is apt to be lighter in shallower water — Francesca R. La Monte > b. : ordinarily disposed : given , inclined , prone < are apt to believe what we like to believe — John Mason Brown >3. : suited to its purpose : fitting , suitable < picking out every term or figure apt for literary use — C.E.Montague >specifically : to the point : apposite , appropriate , pat < words were apt and well chosen — Osbert Sitwell > < apt quotations from classical Arabic travelers — W.L.Wright >4. : keenly intelligent : mentally alert : quick-witted , quick < an apt student > < an apt wit — Samuel Johnson > < the boy was observant and apt to learn — J.G.Cozzens >Synonyms: see fit , quick II. transitive verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Latin aptare, from aptusobsolete : to make fit or suitable : dispose III. abbreviationapartment
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