[apart] adv [ME, fr. MF a part, lit., to the side] (14c) 1 a: at a little distance "tried to keep ~ from the family squabbles" b: away from one another in space or time "towns 20 miles ~"
2. a: as a separate unit: independently "viewed ~, his arguments were unsound" b: so as to separate one from another "found it hard to tell the twins ~"
3: excluded from consideration: aside "a few blemishes ~, the novel is excellent"
4: in or into two or more parts: to pieces "coming ~ at the seams"
[2]apart adj (1786) 1: separate, isolated
2: holding different opinions: divided -- apart.ness n