See Also: Adopt(money)
adopt(dictionary)
adopt(dictionary)

adopt (iou)



adopt verb trans. L15.
[Old & mod. French adopter or Latin adoptare, from ad AD- + optare choose.]
Take (a person) voluntarily into a relationship (usu. foll. by as), esp. (a) as one's child, (b) as a candidate for membership of the House of Commons. L15.
Shakespeare Othello I had rather to adopt a child than get it. S. Johnson Those whom he happens to adopt as favourites.
b. Of a local authority: accept responsibility for the maintenance of (a road etc.). M19.
J. Betjeman By roads 'not adopted', by woodlanded ways.
Take (a practice, idea, etc.) from someone else. E17.
R. Graves I adopted the Stoic way of looking at things.
b. Philology. Take (a foreign word) into use without (intentionally) changing its form. L19.
Choose for one's own practice, take up, (something that need not be another's). M18.
J. Berger The ruling class adopted new tactics towards the workers and the peasantry.
Approve, accept (a report etc.). E20.
J. Galsworthy I propose..that the report and accounts be adopted.
adoptable adjective M19.
adop'tee noun an adopted person L19.
adopter noun L16.