Where does “inept” come from?
Inept comes from Middle French inepte, from Latin ineptus meaning "unsuitable," composed of Latin in "not" and aptus "fit," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ne "not" and h₂ep- "to fit."
inept (English): Not able to do something; not proficient;...
Definitions
- Not able to do something; not proficient;...
Ancestry of “inept”, step by step
inept traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle French inepte
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | inepte | — |
| 2 | Latin | ineptus | unsuitable; impertinent, improper, tasteless;... |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | enaptos | — |
via French inepte
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | inepte | inept, incompetent, feckless |