Adopt
(A*dopt") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adopted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adopting.] [L. adoptare; ad + optare to
choose, desire: cf. F. adopter. See Option.]
1. To take by choice into relationship, as, child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.; esp. to take voluntarily (a child
of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
2. To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally; to select and take or approve; as, to adopt
the view or policy of another; these resolutions were adopted.
Adoptable
(A*dopt"a*ble) a. Capable of being adopted.
Adopted
(A*dopt"ed) a. Taken by adoption; taken up as one's own; as, an adopted son, citizen, country,
word. — A*dopt"ed*ly, adv.
Adopter
(A*dopt"er) n.
1. One who adopts.
2. (Chem.) A receiver, with two necks, opposite to each other, one of which admits the neck of a retort,
and the other is joined to another receiver. It is used in distillations, to give more space to elastic vapors,
to increase the length of the neck of a retort, or to unite two vessels whose openings have different
diameters. [Written also adapter.]
Adoption
(A*dop"tion) n. [L. adoptio, allied to adoptare to adopt: cf. F. adoption.]
1. The act of adopting, or state of being adopted; voluntary acceptance of a child of other parents to be
the same as one's own child.
2. Admission to a more intimate relation; reception; as, the adoption of persons into hospitals or monasteries,
or of one society into another.
3. The choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so; acceptance; as, the adoption
of opinions. Jer. Taylor.
Adoptionist
(A*dop"tion*ist), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect which maintained that Christ was the Son
of God not by nature but by adoption.
Adoptious
(A*dop"tious) a. Adopted. [Obs.]
Adoptive
(A*dopt"ive) a. [L. adoptivus: cf. F. adoptif.] Pertaining to adoption; made or acquired by
adoption; fitted to adopt; as, an adoptive father, an child; an adoptive language. — A*dopt"ive*ly, adv.
Adorability
(A*dor`a*bil"i*ty) n. Adorableness.
Adorable
(A*dor"a*ble) a. [L. adorabilis, fr. adorare: cf. F. adorable.]
1. Deserving to be adored; worthy of divine honors.
The adorable Author of Christianity.
Cheyne.
2. Worthy of the utmost love or respect.
Adorableness
(A*dor"a*ble*ness), n. The quality of being adorable, or worthy of adoration. Johnson.
Adorably
(A*dor"a*bly), adv. In an adorable manner.
Adoration
(Ad`o*ra"tion) n. [L. adoratio, fr. adorare: cf. F. adoration.]
