different between expedient vs apt

English

Etymology

From Middle English expedient, from Old French expedient, from Latin expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire (“to bring forward, to dispatch, to expedite; impers. to be profitable, serviceable, advantageous, expedient”), from ex (“out”) + p?s (“foot, hoof”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?spi?di.?nt/

Adjective

expedient (comparative more expedient, superlative most expedient)

1. Suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended.
   • a. 1863, Richard Whately, Thoughts and Apophthegms

     Nothing but the right can ever be the expedient, since that can never be true expediency which would sacrifice a greater good to a less.

2. Affording short-term benefit, often at the expense of the long-term.
3. Governed by self-interest, often short-term self-interest.
4. (obsolete) Expeditious, quick, rapid.
   • a 1623, Shakespeare, King John, Act II, scene i, lines 57–61:

     the adverse winds / Whose leisure I have stay'd, have given him time / To land his legions all as soon as I; / His marches are expedient to this town / His forces strong, his soldiers confident.

Synonyms

• advisable, desirable, judicious, politic, prudent, tactical, wise

Related terms

Translations

Noun

expedient (plural expedients)

1. A method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.
   • 1906, O. Henry, The Green Door:

     He would never let her know that he was aware of the strange expedient to which she had been driven by her great distress.

   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, page 709:

     Depressingly, [...] the expedient of importing African slaves was in part meant to protect the native American population from exploitation.

Translations

Further reading

• expedient in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• expedient in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• expedient at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “expedient”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin expedi?ns.

Adjective

expedient (masculine and feminine plural expedients)

1. expedient, convenient

Noun

expedient m (plural expedients)

1. file, record, dossier

Derived terms

• expedientar

Further reading

• “expedient” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Latin

Verb

expedient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of expedi?

Romanian

Etymology

From French expédient.

Noun

expedient n (plural expediente)

1. expedient

Declension

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /æpt/
• Rhymes: -æpt

Etymology 1

From Old French apte, from Latin aptus, from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”); compare with Greek ?????? (?ptein, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit ???? (?pta, “fit”), from ??? (?p, “to reach, attain”).

Adjective

apt (comparative apter or more apt, superlative aptest or most apt)

1. Suitable; appropriate; fit or fitted; suited.

   Synonyms: appropriate, meet, suitable; see also Thesaurus:pertinent, Thesaurus:suitable

   • a river […] apt to be forded by a lamb
2. (of persons or things) Having a habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; disposed towards.

   Synonyms: disposed, inclined, liable, predisposed, tending towards; see also Thesaurus:inclined

   • 1874, John Lubbock, Scientific Lectures / On Plants and Insects

     This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of its leaves by a leaf-cutting ant.

   • 1886, Frederic Harrison, The Choice of Books

     that lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their grandfathers

3. Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn.

   Synonyms: fit, prompt, expert, qualified, ready; see also Thesaurus:skilled

Derived terms

• aptly
• aptness

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Clipping of apartment.

Noun

apt (plural apts)

1. An apartment; a flat.
   • 2010, David Dondero, Just a Baby in Your Momma's Eyes

     Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise.
     Which at a lowly income none of us could ever really quite afford.

Anagrams

• ATP, PAT, PTA, Pat, TAP, TPA, pat, tap

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• apa, apet

Verb

apt

1. past participle of ape

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin aptus, likely through English apt.

Adjective

apt (indefinite singular apt, definite singular and plural apte, comparative aptare, indefinite superlative aptast, definite superlative aptaste)

1. apt

Romanian

Etymology

From French apte, from Latin aptus.

Adjective

apt m or n (feminine singular apt?, masculine plural ap?i, feminine and neuter plural apte)

1. apt

Declension