Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Very skilled or accomplished. synonym: proficient.
  • noun A highly skilled person; an expert.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Well skilled; completely versed or acquainted.
  • noun One who has attained proficiency; one fully skilled in anything; a proficient or master; specifically, in former times, a proficient in alchemy or magic; a master of occult science, or one who professed to have discovered “the great secret” (namely, of transmuting base metal into gold).
  • noun Synonyms Adept, Expert. An adept is one who possesses natural as well as acquired aptitude or skill in anything: as, an adept in the art of governing; an adept in diplomacy, lying, cajolery, whist-playing, etc. An expert, on the other hand, is one whose skill and proficiency are more conspicuously the result of practice or experience, or of an intimate acquaintance with a subject. The term is mostly limited to one possessing special skill or knowledge in some branch, and regarded as an authority on it: as, an expert in alienism, chemistry, penmanship, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient.
  • noun One fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient
  • noun One fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient; as, adepts in philosophy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
  • noun someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin adeptus, past participle of adipīscī, to attain : ad-, ad- + apīscī, to grasp.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French adepte, from Latin adeptus ("who has achieved"), the past participle of adipisci ("to attain").

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Examples

  • WORDS ACCENTED ON THE LAST SYLLABLE: address _address'_ adept _adept'_ adult _adult'_ ally _ally'_ commandant _commandänt '(ä as in arm) _ contour _contour'_ dessert _dessert'_ dilate _dilate'_ excise _eksiz'_ finance _finance'_ grimace _grimace'_ importune _importune'_ occult _occult'_ pretence _pretence'_ research _research'_ robust _robust'_ romance _romance'_ tirade _tirade'_

    Practical Grammar and Composition Thomas Wood

  • T'Lar, the most learned of them all, had recently and without comment ceased to use the title "adept."

    THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK VONDA N.MCINTYRE 1990

  • Mr. Williams was known as an adept improviser who effortlessly switched between classical, jazz and pop styles.

    Roger Williams, 'Pianist to Presidents,' Dies at 87 CHRISTOPHER WEBER 2011

  • He/she probably meant to use the word adept having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude.

    From On High 2007

  • Williams was known as an adept improviser who effortlessly switched between classical, jazz and pop styles.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2011

  • I think a little friendly guide to the new system might help, for us oldsters who are not what you could call adept users.

    Hillary's Talking Points: Hillary And Obama Presidencies Would Both "Change History" 2009

  • The other two chiefs are a Negro and a Hindoo; the adept is a Malay.

    The Wandering Jew — Volume 02 Eug��ne Sue 1830

  • The other two chiefs are a Negro and a Hindoo; the adept is a Malay.

    The Wandering Jew — Complete Eug��ne Sue 1830

  • If you depend on that and the guy is any kind of adept, you are getting cut, and maybe fatally.

    Knives Redux Steve Perry 2009

  • Other main characters are Queen Jehanne, former top Night Court "adept" ie former top courtesan of Terre Ange and second wife of King Daniel Courcel, her lover and dabbler in magical arts Raphael de Mereliot, elderly Ch'in wizard Lo Feng and his factotum disciple and martial arts expert Bao who are honored guests of the Angeline court, as well as quite a few others that you will encounter in the fullness of time.

    Archive 2009-06-01 Cindy 2009

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