adapt
Meaning
to change something to suit a new purpose or situation
to change your behavior or thinking to deal with a new situation successfully
Structure
Usage
The software can be adapted for use on mobile devices.
Animals must adapt to their environment to survive.
She adapted the novel into a successful screenplay.
Etymology
The word 'adapt' entered English in the early 15th century from the French adapter, which itself derives from the Latin verb adaptare. This Latin verb is a compound of the prefix ad- ("to") and aptare ("to fit"), a frequentative form of apere ("to fasten, attach"). The core semantic logic has remained remarkably consistent: the concept of "fitting something to" or "making something suitable for" a specific purpose or condition. From its literal Latin roots describing physical attachment, the meaning broadened in English to encompass the more abstract processes of adjustment and modification in behavior, design, or function to meet new circumstances.
Analysis
ad: Latin prefix meaning "to, toward, near." apt: From Latin aptus, meaning "fitted, suited, appropriate."