Definition of adaptation

The word "adaptation" has its roots in Latin. The Latin word "adaptare" means "to fit together" or "to conjoin", and it is derived from "ad" (meaning "to" or "toward") and "aptare" (meaning "to fit"). In the 15th century, the Latin term "adaptatio" was borrowed into Middle English as "adaptacioun", which referred to the act of fitting or conforming to something. In the 17th century, the term "adaptation" emerged in English to describe the process of changing or modifying something to fit a particular situation or purpose. The biological concept of adaptation, or the process by which an organism becomes better suited to its environment, emerged in the 18th century. In recent decades, the term has expanded to encompass other fields, including filmmaking, literature, and computer science, where adaptation refers to the process of altering a work to suit a new medium or audience.