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Where does the word "aptitude" come from? It comes from Latin aptus, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "aptitude" come from? It comes from Latin aptus, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
Aptitude’s story begins in Latin: aptus meant “fit, suitable.” The root of 'apt', 'adapt' and 'inept'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as aptitudo. Fitness, suitability, from aptus. It reached English by 1400s as aptitude. Settled as the English word for a natural ability or talent for something. Today, aptitude means a natural ability or talent for learning or doing something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient aptus "fit, suitable", the root of 'apt', 'adapt' and 'inept'.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval aptitudo "fitness, suitability", fitness, suitability, from aptus.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s aptitude "a natural ability or talent for something", settled as the English word for a natural ability or talent for something.