I. əˈpärt, -pȧt, usu -d.+V adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French a part, literally, at the side, to the side, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin ad partem, from Latin ad at, to + Late Latin partem, accusative of pars side, from Latin, part — more at at , part
1. : to or at one side : at a little distance
the kitchen stood apart from the house
2. : separately in space or time : away from one another
towns five miles apart
children born two years apart
3. : as a separate or distinct object of thought : independently , individually
viewed apart , his arguments were unsound
4. : excluded from consideration : aside
these things apart , I have been working steadily — H.J.Laski
5. : in or into two or more parts : to pieces : asunder
was showing signs of coming apart at the seams — Milton Hindus
6. : aside from common use : above the general level
the elite were definitely set apart from the mass — A.N.Christensen
II. adjective
1.
a. : having particular characteristics not shared with any others
scientists felt they were a group apart , entitled to special privilege — Vannevar Bush
b. : being out of the way : remote, secluded
had been preserved because they inhabited a place apart — W.H.Hudson †1922
2. : holding different opinions : in disagreement : divergent
the allies are still apart — Time