apt
释义
Suitable or appropriate to the situation; well-chosen
恰当的,贴切的
Having a natural tendency to do something; likely to
倾向于……的,易于……的
Quick to learn; naturally able
聪颖的,资质好的
词根拆分
词根派生apt 就是词根 aptus(合适的)独立成词。它的三个义项都从「契合」流出:an apt remark 契合当下;someone apt to forget,其倾向契合其性格;an apt pupil 天生契合、学得快。
词根 apt 还连着 19 个词使用指南
三个义项各有语法:
- 恰当的(定语):an apt phrase、an apt title——通常放在名词前。
- 倾向于 / 易于(apt to + 动词):He's apt to overreact(他动不动就反应过度)。这层义近 "liable to",常暗示不太好的倾向。
- 聪颖的(an apt pupil/student):略正式、略old-fashioned。
注意:apt to 描述一般倾向,likely to 描述某具体事件发生的概率。
例句
- 1.
That was an apt description of how I felt at the time.
那是对我当时感受的一个贴切描述。
- 2.
Without his glasses, he is apt to misjudge distances.
不戴眼镜时,他容易误判距离。
- 3.
She was an apt student who picked up languages with ease.
她是个聪颖的学生,学语言毫不费力。
近义词对比
- apt —— 精当、贴切;也表「倾向于」(apt to forget)
- suitable —— 满足某用途的要求;中性、务实
- appropriate —— 契合社交场合或情境
- fitting —— 在情感或审美上恰如其分(a fitting tribute 恰如其分的致敬)
- likely —— 很可能;与 apt 的「倾向」义重叠,但纯指概率