Adapts 
skulls found by Cuvier in the gyjpsum-quarries 
of Montmartre, Paris, and by nun referred to 
his order Pachydermata, and considered as re- 
lated in some respects to Anoplotherium. The 
animal was of about the size of a rabbit. Subsequent in- 
vestigations, based upon additional material, have shown 
Adapts to be the type of a family Ailapiiltr, representing 
ageneralized form of the leraurine 8eries(Pc/(.'//''"""'"'"', 
c'illiol) of the order Primate*. 
adapt (a-dapf), v. t. [< F. adapter = It. adat- 
tare, < L. adaptare, fit to, < ad, to, + aptare, 
make fit, < aptus, fit: see apt.'] 1. To make 
suitable; make to correspond; fit or suit; pro- 
portion. 
A good poet will adapt the very sounds, as well as words, 
to the things he treats of. Pope, Letters. 
The form and structure of nests, that vary so much, and 
are so wonderfully adapted to the wants and habits of 
each species. A. R. Wallace, Nat. Selec., p. 210. 
Two errors are in common vogue in regard to instinct : 
first, that it never errs ; secondly, that it never adapts 
itself to changed circumstances. 
Maudsley, Body and Will, 5. 
2. To fit by alteration ; modify or remodel for 
a different purpose : as, to adapt a story or a 
foreign play for the stage ; to adapt an old ma- 
chine to a new manufacture. 3. To make by 
altering or fitting something else ; produce by 
change of form or character: as, to bring out 
a play adapted from the French ; a word of an 
adapted form. = Syn. 1. To adjust, accommodate, con- 
form. 2. To arrange. 
adaptt (a-dapf), a. [Short for adapted, prob. 
suggested by apt.'] Adapted ; fit ; suitable. 
If we take this definition of happiness, and examine it 
with reference to the senses, it will be acknowledged 
wonderfully adapt. Sicift, Tale of a Tub, ix. 
[Providence] gave him able arms and back 
To wield a flail and carry sack, 
And in all stations active be, 
Adapt to prudent husbandry. 
D'Urfey, Colln's Walk, i. 
adaptability (a-dap-ta-bil'i-ti), n. ; pi. adapta- 
bilities (-tiz). [< adaptable : see -bility.'] l.The 
quality of being adaptable ; a quality that ren- 
ders adaptable. 
No wonder that with such ready adaptabilities they 
[Norwegians] made the best of emigrants. 
Froitde, Sketches, p. 77. 
2. Specifically, in biol., variability in respect 
to, or under the influence of, external condi- 
tions; susceptibility of an organism to that 
variation whereby it becomes suited to or 
fitted for its conditions of environment; the 
capacity of an organism to be modified by cir- 
cumstances. 
adaptable (a-dap'ta-bl), a. [< adapt + -able.'] 
Capable of being adapted ; susceptible of adap- 
tation. 
Yet, after all, thin, speculative Jonathan is more like 
the Englishman of two centuries ago than John Bull him- 
self is. He has lost somewhat in solidity, has become 
fluent and adaptable, but more of the original ground- 
work of character remains. 
Lowell, Introd. to Biglow Papers, 1st ser. 
adaptableness (a-dap'ta-bl-nes), . Adapta- 
bility. 
adaptation (ad-ap-ta'shqn), n. [< F. adapta- 
. tion, < ML. adaptatio(n-J, < L. adaptare: see 
" adapt, D.] 1. The act of adapting or adjust- 
ing ; the state of being adapted or fitted ; ad- 
justment to circumstances or relations. 
Government, ... in a just sense, is, if one may say so, 
the science of adaptations variable in its elements, de- 
pendent upon circumstances, and incapable of a rigid 
mathematical demonstration. 
Story, Misc. Writings, p. 616. 
Must we not expect that, with a government also, spe- 
cial adaptation to one end implies non-adaptation to other 
ends? H. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 303. 
2. That which is adapted ; the result of alter- 
ing for a different use. Specifically, a play trans- 
lated or constructed from a foreign language or a novel, 
and rendered suitable for representation: as, this com- 
edy is a free adaptation from a French author. 
3. In biol., advantageous variation in animals 
or plants under changed conditions ; the result 
of adaptability to, and variability under, exter- 
nal conditions ; the operation of external influ- 
ences upon a variable organism, or a character 
acquired by the organism as the result of such 
operation. It is regarded as one of two principal fac- 
tors in the evolution of organic forms, inducing those 
changes which it is the tendency of the opposite factor, 
heredity, to counteract, the result in any given case being 
the balance between adaptation and heredity, or the diag- 
onal of the parallelogram of forces which adaptation and 
heredity may be respectively considered to represent. 
Adaptation is commenced by a change in the functions 
of organs, so that the physiological relations of organs 
play the most important part in it. Since adaptation is 
merely the material expression of this change of function, 
the modification of the function as much as its expression 
is to be regarded as a gradual process. As a rule, there- 
fore, adaptation can be perceived by its results only in a 
66 
long series of generations, while transmission [i. e., hered- 
ity] can be recognised in every generation. 
Gegenbaur, Comp. Anat. (trans.), p. 9. 
adaptational (ad-ap-ta'shon-al), a. Belating 
or pertaining to adaptation, or the adjustment 
of one thing to another; adaptive: in biol., 
applied to physiological or functional modifi- 
cations of parts or organs, as distinguished 
from morphological or structural changes. 
adaptative (a-dap'ta-tiv), a. [< L. adaptatus, 
pp. of adaptare, adapt (see adapt, v.), + -we.\ 
Of or pertaining to adaptation; adaptive. 
[Bare.] 
adal>tativeness (a-dap'ta-tiv-nes), n. Adapta- 
bility. 
adaptedness (a-dap'ted-nes), . The state of 
being adapted;' suitableness; fitness. 
The adaptedness of the Christian faith to all such [the 
poor and oppressed], which was made a reproach against 
ft by supercilious antagonists, constitutes one of its chief 
glories. G. P. Fisher, Begin, of Christianity, p. 545. 
adapter (a-dap'ter), . 1. One who adapts, or 
makes an adaptation; specifically, one who 
translates, remodels, or rearranges a composi- 
tion or work, rendering it fit to be represented 
on the stage, as a play from a foreign tongue 
or from a novel. 
And, if these imaginary adapters of Homer modernized 
his whole diction, how could they preserve his metrical 
effects? De Quincey, Homer, iii. 
2. That which adapts; anything that serves 
the purpose of adapting or adjusting one thing 
to another. Specifically 3. In cnem., a re- 
ceiver with two necks diametrically opposite, 
one of which admits the neck of a retort, while 
the other is joined to a second receiver, it is 
used in distillations to give more space to elastic vapors, 
or to increase the length of the neck of a retort. Also 
called adopter. 
4. In optics: (a) A metal ring uniting two 
lengths of a telescope. (6) An attachment to 
a microscope for centering the illuminating ap- 
paratus or throwing it out of center. E. H. 
Knight, (c) A means for enabling object- 
glasses made by different makers, and having 
different screws, to be fitted to a body not spe- 
cially adapted to receive them. E. H. Knight. 
5. A glass or rubber tube, with ends differ- 
ing in size, used to connect two other tubes 
or two pieces of apparatus. 
adaption (a-dap'shon), n. [< adapt + -ion. Cf. 
adoption, (adopt."] Adaptation ; the act of fit- 
ting. [Bare.] 
Wise contrivances and prudent adaptions. Cheyne. 
adaptional (a-dap'shon-al), a. Relating or 
pertaining to adaptation, or the action of adapt- 
ing: in biol., applied to the process by which 
an organism is fitted or adapted to its environ- 
ment : as, adaptional swellings. 
adaptitude (a-dap'ti-tud), n. [< adapt + -itude, 
after aptitude.'] Adapteduess ; special apti- 
tude. Browning. 
adaptive (a-dap'tiv), a. [< adapt + -ive. Cf. 
adaptative. J Of, pertaining to, or characterized 
by adaptation ; making or made fit or suitable ; 
susceptible of or undergoing accordant change. 
Much used in biology with reference to functional or 
physiological changes occasioned by variations of exter- 
nal conditions or environment, as opposed to honwloyical. 
See adaptation, 3. 
The adaptive power, that is, the faculty of adapting 
means to proximate ends. 
Coleridge, Aids to Reflec., p. 178. 
The function of selective discrimination with the com- 
plementary power of adaptive response is regarded as the 
root-principle of mind. Science, IV. 17. 
In the greater number of Mammals, the bones assume 
a very modified and adaptive position. 
W. II. Flower, Osteology, p. 242. 
These resemblances, though so intimately connected 
with the whole life of the being, are ranked as merely 
" adaptive or analogical characters." 
Danrin, Origin of Species, p. 374. 
adaptively (a-dap'tiv-li), adv. In an adap- 
tive manner ; with adaptation ; in an adjusted 
or fitting manner ; with fitness : as, "adop- 
tively modified structures," Owen, Class, of 
Mammalia. 
adaptiveness (a-dap'tiv-nes), n. The quality 
of being adaptive ; capability of making or be- 
coming fit or suitable. 
adaptlyt (a-dapf li), adv. In a suitable or con- 
venient manner ; aptly ; fitly. 
For active horsemanship adaptly fit. 
Prior, Colin's Mist., iii. 3. 
adaptnesst (a-dapf nes), n. The state of be- 
ing fitted; adaptation; aptness: as, "tul<i/>t- 
ness of the sound to the sense," Bp. Neicton, 
Milton. 
ad capt. 
adaptorial (ad-ap-to'ri-al), a. [< adapt + -ory 
+ -a?.] Tending to adapt or fit ; adaptive. 
[Rare.] 
Adar (a'dar), n. [Heb. adar ; etym. uncer- 
tain.] A Hebrew month, being the sixth of the 
civil and the twelfth of the ecclesiastical year, 
corresponding to the latter part of February 
and the first part of March. 
adarce (a-dar'se), n. [L., also adarca, < Gr. 
addpicri or aiapKt/r, also ddap/cof, a word of for- 
eign origin.] A saltish concretion on reeds and 
grass in marshy grounds, noted especially in 
ancient Galatia, Asia Minor, it is soft and porous, 
and has been used to cleanse the skin in leprosy, tetters, 
and other diseases. 
adarguet, . [OSp.,ofAr. origin.] An Arabic 
weapon like a broad dagger. 
adarkon (a-dar'kon), n. [Heb. ; deriv. uncer- 
tain ; by some writers connected with the name 
Darius : see daric] A gold coin (also called 
darkemon) mentioned in the original text of the 
book of Ezra, etc., as in use among the Jews, 
and translated dram in the authorized version. 
It was a foreign coin, probably the Persian 
daric (which see), and is so rendered in the re- 
vised version. 
adarme (a-dar'ma), n. [Sp. adarme, a dram ; 
a- perhaps represents the Ar. art. al, the, and 
-darme the L. drachma : see drachma and 
dram."] A Spanish weight, a drachm, the 16th 
part of an ounce, or the 256th part of a pound, 
equal (in Castile) to l^V avoirdupois drachms. 
Another form is adareme. In their origin, avoirdu- 
pois weight and the Spanish system were identical. 
adarticulation (ad-ar-tik-u-la'shon), n. [< ad- 
+ articulation.'] Same as arthrodia. 
adatit (ad'a-ti), . [Also written adaty, pi. arf- 
atis, adaties, etc. ; of E. Ind. origin. Cf. Beng. 
ddat (cerebral d) or drat, a warehouse, a gen- 
eral store.] A kind of piece-goods exported 
from Bengal. 
adauntt (a-diinf ), v. t. [< ME. adattnten, < OF. 
adanter, adonter, later addomter, < a- + danter, 
donter, daunt: see a- 11 and daunt.'] To sub- 
due. 
A'iiiunt' ii the rage of a lyon savage. 
Skelton, Hercules. 
adawM (a-da'), v. [< ME. adawen, <a- + dawen, 
E. dial, dam: see a-t and date 1 .] I. intrans. To 
wake up ; awake ; come to. 
But sire, a man that wakith out of his slep, 
He may not sodeynly well taken keep 
Upon a thing, ne seen it parfytly, 
Til tha ' 
that he be adawed verrayly. 
Chaucer, Merchant's Tale, 1. 1156. 
II. trans. To awaken; arouse from sleep or 
swoon. Chaucer. 
adaw-t (a-da'), v. [First used in 16th century; 
perhaps < ME. adawe, of dau-e, of dage, or in 
fuller phrase of lyfe daice, usually with verb 
bringen or don, lit. bring or do (put) 'out of 
(life) day,' i. e., kill, hence the sense quell, 
subdue, assisted prob. by an erroneous etym. 
< ad- + awe, and prob. also by association with 
adaunt. The form daw, daunt, is later: see 
<Jaw*.] I. trans. 1. To daunt ; quell ; cow. 
The sight whereof did greatly him adaw. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. vil. 13. 
2. To moderate ; abate. 
Gins to abate the brightnesse of his berne, 
And fervour of his flames somewhat adaw. 
Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. 35. 
II. intrans. To become moderated or less 
vehement. 
Therewith her wrathfull courage gan appall, 
And haughtie spirits meekely to adaw. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. vi. 26. 
adawlet (a-da'let), n. [Also written adawlut, 
< Hind, 'dddlat, < Ar. 'adala(t), a court of jus- 
tice, < Hind, and Ar. 'adl, justice.] In the East 
Indies, a court of justice, civil or criminal. 
adawn (a-dan'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< a 3 
+ dawn.] Dawning; at the point of dawn, 
adayt (a-da'),^>rep. phr. as adv. [< ME. aday, 
adai; t a 3 + day 1 .] 1. By day. 2. On each 
day; daily. 
Now written a day, sometimes a-day. See a 3 , 
adays (a-daz'), prep. phr. as adv. [< ME. 
adayes, a dayes, a dates ; < 08 + days, adverbial 
gen. sing, (now regarded as ace. pi.) of day."] 
If. By day ; in the daytime. 
I have miserable nights; ... but I shift pretty well 
adays. Johnson to Mrs. Thrale, Mch. 19, 1777. 
2. On or in the day or time : only in the com- 
pound phrase nowadays (which see). 
adazet (a-daz'), " ' [< ME. adasen, < a- + 
dimrn, daze : see daze.~] To dazzle. Sir T. More. 
ad capt. An abbreviation of 
