adapter

the word 'adapter' is a modern english formation built upon the verb 'adapt', which entered english in the early 17th century from the french 'adapter', itself derived from latin 'adaptare' ('to fit to'). the latin term is a compound of 'ad-' ('to') and 'aptare' ('to fit'), from 'aptus' ('fitted'). the agent suffix '-er', of germanic origin, was appended to create a noun denoting 'one who adapts'. the technological sense of a connecting device emerged in the 20th century, logically extending the core idea of making one thing fit or be suitable for another.

Structure: adapt + er adapt: from latin 'adaptare', meaning 'to fit, adjust'. it is the verb root. er: from old english '-ere', a suffix forming agent nouns indicating 'a person or thing that performs an action'.