Apt

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /æpt/

Definitions

1. Having a natural tendency to do something or to behave in a particular way ; being fitting or proper for a specific purpose or occasion ; being mentally quick and able to grasp concepts easily
2. Inclined or prone to a particular condition or action ; corresponding well to the requirements or circumstances ; showing a sharp and quick understanding
3. Tending to happen or be true ; appropriate or well-matched to a situation ; demonstrating a readiness to learn or comprehend swiftly

Etymology: The adjective "apt" meant "fitted" or "joined together" long before it meant "suitable." Its earliest sense was physical: something that fitted neatly into something else, like two pieces that locked. The Latin verb "apere" carried that idea of fastening or fitting, and English picked up the word from that Latin root, with its meaning moving from the mechanical fit of parts toward a fit of character or circumstance. The same ancient root turns up in surprisingly distant places. The Greek "haptein," meaning "to fasten," and the Sanskrit "āpta," meaning "fit," come from the same pool of roots. Those connections show how a word for joining pieces together could later describe a person who is "apt" to do something, or a remark that fits the moment perfectly.

Synonyms: suitable, appropriate, fitting

Antonyms: inappropriate, unsuitable, unfit