apart

—apartness, n.

/euh pahrt"/, adv.

1. into pieces or parts; to pieces: to take a watch apart; an old barn falling apart from decay.

2. separately in place, time, motion, etc.: New York and Tokyo are thousands of miles apart. Our birthdays are three days apart.

3. to or at one side, with respect to place, purpose, or function: to put money apart for education; to keep apart from the group out of pride.

4. separately or individually in consideration: each factor viewed apart from the others.

5. aside (used with a gerund or noun): Joking apart, what do you think?

6. apart from, aside from; in addition to; besides: Apart from other considerations, time is a factor.

7. take apart,

a. to disassemble: to take a clock apart.

b. Informal. to criticize; attack: She was taken apart for her controversial stand.

c. to subject to intense examination: He will take your feeble excuses apart.

adj.

8. having independent or unique qualities, features, or characteristics (usually used following the noun it modifies): a class apart.

[1350-1400; ME < OF a part to one side. See A-⁵, PART]

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