— aptly , adv. — aptness , n.
/apt/ , adj.
1. inclined; disposed; given; prone: too apt to slander others.
2. likely: Am I apt to find him at home?
3. unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily: an apt pupil.
4. suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate: an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace.
5. Archaic. prepared; ready; willing.
[ 1350-1400; ME ( aptus fastened, fitted, fitting, appropriate, equiv. to ap- fasten, attach + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. liable. 2. See likely. 3. clever, bright; adaptable; handy, adroit, dexterous, skillful. 4. fitting, meet, germane, felicitous. APT, PERTINENT, RELEVANT all refer to something suitable or fitting. APT means to the point and particularly appropriate: an apt comment. PERTINENT means pertaining to the matter in hand: a pertinent remark. RELEVANT means directly related to and important to the subject: a relevant opinion.
Usage . Some usage guides insist that APT followed by an infinitive can or should be used to mean only "inclined, disposed": He is apt to ignore matters he regards as unimportant. In fact, APT is standard in all varieties of speech and writing as a synonym for likely in contexts that suggest probability without any implication of a natural disposition toward: Hostilities are apt to break out if the confrontation is not soon resolved. She is apt to arrive almost any time now. See also liable .