BharatNotes Aptitude
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
A robust civil service must recruit not merely for accumulated knowledge but for aptitude, since the capacity to learn and adapt determines how well an administrator navigates the unforeseen complexities of governance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
apt (adj), aptly (adv), aptness (n), aptitudes (n pl), inapt (adj)
Root
Latin aptus (fitted, suitable), past participle of apere (to fasten) → Late Latin aptitūdō (fitness).
Etymology
From Late Latin aptitūdō ("fitness"), from Latin aptus ("fitted, suitable"), past participle of apere ("to fasten"); entered English via Old French in the late 15th century.
Memory Hook
"Aptitude" shares its root with "apt" (Latin aptus, "suited") — someone apt for a task has the natural aptitude for it.
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