apart

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French a part, literally, to one side Date: 14th century 1. a. at a little distance <

tried to keep apart from the family squabbles

> b. away from one another in space or time <

towns 20 miles apart

> 2. a. as a separate unit ; independently <

viewed apart, his arguments were unsound

> b. so as to separate one from another <

found it hard to tell the twins apart

> 3. excluded from consideration ; aside <

a few blemishes apart, the novel is excellent

> 4. in or into two or more parts ; to pieces <

coming apart at the seams

> II. adjective Date: 1728 1. separate, isolated <

those athletes are a breed apart

> 2. holding different opinions ; divided • apartness noun