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adopt (v.)
c. 1500, a back-formation from adoption or else from Old French adopter (14c.) or directly from Latin adoptare "chose for oneself, take by choice, select, adopt," especially "to take into a family, adopt as a child," from ad "to" (see ad-) + optare "choose, wish, desire" (see option (n.)). Originally in English also of friends, fathers, citizens, etc. Sense of "to legally take as one's own child" and that of "to embrace, espouse" a practice, method, etc. are from c. 1600. Related: Adopted; adopting.
updated on December 08, 2020
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Definitions of adopt from WordNet
Dictionary entries near adopt
adolescence
adolescent
Adolph
Adonai
Adonis
adopt
adoptee
adopter
adoption
adoptive
adorable