apposite

comparative more apposite · superlative most apposite

1. Strikingly appropriate or relevant; well suited to the circumstance or in relation to something.

   c. 1833–1856, Andrew Carrick, John Addington Symonds (editors), Medical Topography of Bristol, in Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association/Volume 2/3, Medical Topography would be the most apposite title, since it comprehends the principal objects of investigation; ….

   5 more examples

   Flora, however, received the remark as if it had been of a most apposite and agreeable nature; approvingly observing aloud that Mr. F's Aunt had a great deal of spirit.

   1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, “Machinery in Motion”, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC, 1st book (Poverty), page 197

   Rough-neck is a capital word; it is more apposite and savory than the English navvy, and it is over-whelmingly more American.

   [1921 [1919], H. L. Mencken, chapter 15, in The American Language, 2nd edition, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, →OCLC

   On the other hand, many of the happiest railway experiences are casual events—so much so that in many cases only the keen eye and apposite knowledge of the real enthusiast spots an item of more than passing interest.

   1950 October, R. S. McNaught, “Joys of the Unexpected”, in Railway Magazine, page 689

   Information on almost every aspect of London Transport's railways—and on the Southern Region's Waterloo & City line—is here contained, with many apposite and well-captioned illustrations, in 125 pages, all for the modest price of one guinea.

   1963 April, “New Books: London's Underground (Third edition revised and enlarged). By H. F. Howson. Ian Allan. 21s.”, in Modern Railways, page 288

   And so it is good to see the big society born again, resurrected in Cameron's Christmas message. The timing was apposite: as the prime minister pointed out, many of the most active volunteers are Christians.

   2014 January 4, Danny Kruger, “The big society is not about picking litter: it is meant to be a challenge”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: apt, to the point, applicable, apt, ad rem, well-placed, felicitous, germane

2. Positioned at rest in respect to another, be it side-to-side, front-to-front, back-to-back, or even three-dimensionally: in apposition.

   In other words, they are used to name, rather than to describe. They are apposite nouns and not adjectives.

   1971, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, volume 34, University of London. School of Oriental and African Studies, page 262

3. Related, homologous.

   If the shift in theatrical setting and the shift in dramaturgy are at all related, they are apposite developments, independent yet homologous signs of a changing political and cultural climate.

   2000, David Skeele, “"All That Monarchs Do": The Obscured Stages of Authority in Pericles”, in Pericles: Critical Essays

   Synonyms: affiliated, allied, associated, comparative, connected, important, related, relative

plural apposites

1. rareThat which is apposite; something suitable.

   Hugh gave the boy apples or other small apposites[…], but the child was too interested in the bishop to notice the gifts.

   1901, Charles L. Marson, Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln