Make Your Point > Archived Issues > APT
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APT:
Say it "APT."
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connect this word to others:
In English, we've got two fun synonyms of appropriate that kind of look like shortened versions of it: there's apt, which we're checking out today; and there's apr____, which we've checked out before and comes from a French phrase meaning "to the purpose." Can you recall it?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
In Latin, aptus means "suitable, fitting, or appropriate."
We took aptus into English around the 1400s as "apt," and we first used it to mean "ready, prepared, fit to do something."
The meaning changed a little over time, and today, apt things are especially appropriate.
And, if you're apt to do something, you're likely to do it, often because it's a habit.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "It's apt to explode;" "That's an apt description."
Other forms:
The adverb is "aptly."
For a noun, you can pick "aptness" or "aptitude."
how to use it:
"Apt" is a common word.
We very often use it to mean "likely," and in that case, it takes on a slangy, casual feel: "I'm apt to change my mind;" "I'm apt to believe pretty much anything he says;" "Layla is apt to meow at me at six in the morning;" "These cheap erasers are apt to leave pink smudges on your work."
When we use it to mean "fitting, appropriate, especially proper or suitable," then the word takes on a more formal, serious feel. We'll see that in the examples below.
examples:
"The cat: He was called Dragon... the name turned out to be an apt one. He was enormous, with a huge, broad head and a large mouth full of curving fangs, needle sharp."
— Robert C. O'Brien, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, 1970
"'The Tender Bar' movie review:... Tender also is an apt description for the gently heartwarming tone of this appealingly low-key, faded Kodachrome coming-of-age story."
— Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 21 December 2021
has this page helped you understand "apt"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "apt" without saying "likely" or "fitting."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "As it turns out, '___' (was or wasn't) a particularly apt description for _____, since _____."
Example: "As it turns out, 'side dish' wasn't a particularly apt description for the pancakes, since each was about the diameter of a basketball."
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is Oddball Recall!
Given some abbreviated definitions and a few letters, try to recall some of the kookiest terms we've studied. To see the answers, scroll all the way down.
Try this set today: Wait, But Why?
1. Eat yourself: our____ic.
2. Sell your soul: F__st__n.
3. Toss something out a window: de_____trate.
4. Repeat the same pointless action: S__yph__n.
5. Chew your food until it turns to liquid: fl____erize.
review this word:
1.
Opposites of APT include
A. ROOMY and SPACIOUS.
B. DULL and MELANCHOLY.
C. UNLIKELY and ILL-FITTING.
2.
Based on a Stephen King novel, the movie "Apt Pupil" is about a young student, Todd, who is _____.
A. eager to learn about Holocaust horrors, as if likely to become a Nazi himself
B. jailed for a murder he didn't commit, but blessed with a mystical gift that helps others
C. one of the few survivors from a deadly virus, caught up in a final battle between good and evil
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
In English, we've got two fun synonyms of appropriate that kind of look like shortened versions of it: there's apt, which we're checking out today; and there's apr____, which we've checked out before and comes from a French phrase meaning "to the purpose." Can you recall it?
In Latin, aptus means "suitable, fitting, or appropriate."
Part of speech:
"Apt" is a common word.
"The cat: He was called Dragon... the name turned out to be an apt one. He was enormous, with a huge, broad head and a large mouth full of curving fangs, needle sharp."
Explain the meaning of "apt" without saying "likely" or "fitting."
Fill in the blanks: "As it turns out, '___' (was or wasn't) a particularly apt description for _____, since _____."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |