Wordwyrt

adaptable

/əˈdæptəbəl/uh-DAP-tuh-buhl
/əˈdæptəbəl/uh-DAP-tuh-buhl

Meaningable to be fitted to

Common meaning: able to adjust easily

‘to, towards’ + ‘fitted, fastened’ → adaptable

Journey through time

  1. Latinaptus, -a, -um‘fitted, fastened’
  2. Englishadaptable‘able to adjust easily’ · today

ad- also in: addadaptadoptadoreadorn

apt also in: aptaptlyaptnessadapt

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin aptus ‘fitted, fastened; suited’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry aptus, p. 137 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

adaptaptaptlyaptness

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