from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. An inherent ability, as for learning; a talent. See Synonyms at ability.
- n. Quickness in learning and understanding; intelligence.
- n. The condition or quality of being suitable; appropriateness.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. Natural ability to acquire knowledge or skill.
- n. The condition of being suitable.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- n. A natural or acquired disposition or capacity for a particular purpose, or tendency to a particular action or effect.
- n. A general fitness or suitableness; adaptation.
- n. Readiness in learning; docility; aptness.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The state or quality of being apt or fit for or suited to a purpose, place, or situation; fitness; suitableness.
- n. A natural tendency or acquired inclination; both capacity and propensity for a certain course: as, oil has an aptitude to burn; men acquire an aptitude to particular vices.
- n. Readiness in learning; teachableness; quickness to understand and acquire; intelligence; talent.
- n. Synonyms Faculty, Capacity, etc. See genius.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. inherent ability
By then, the word aptitude, implying that students were being tested for natural fitness or inborn talent, would no longer do.
I agree that any genetic differences in aptitude probably predated selective breeding by slave owners.
Now, however, "fresh research adds to the debate about gender difference in aptitude for mathematics, including efforts to explain the relative scarcity of women among professors of science, math, and engineering."
A study by the RAND Corporation, commissioned by the Pentagon and published in 2005, evaluated several factors that affect military performance — experience, training, aptitude, and so forth — and found that aptitude is key.
And in one of the first long-term aptitude studies, researchers found that preemies aren't necessarily destined for a lifetime of learning problems.
Making the admiration sexual rather than based on aptitude is one way to avoid recognizing the lack of said quality in himself.
Despite the committees 'rhetorical emphasis on scientists, the real idea was to defer a whole class of people -- those high in aptitude, no matter what their field.
On the other hand, MacMillan never went on to the Olympics because natural aptitude is not sufficient in itself.
It was interesting and Rilla discovered a certain aptitude in herself for it that surprised her.
In fact, Peter’s scientific aptitude is pretty much gone in this film, aside from him talking to a professor who has examined a piece of the symbiotic black suit.