rarely -or. [f. ADAPT v. + -ER1.]
1. One who adapts. a. One who fits or suits one thing to another. b. One who modifies or alters a composition to suit it to new purposes.
1801. Chalmers, Lett., in Life (1851), I. 48. Such adaptation speaks of a divine and intelligent adapter.
1858. De Quincey, Wks., VI. 374. If these imaginary adapters of Homer, according to the German pretence, modernised his whole diction.
1865. Sat. Rev., 12 Aug., 210/1. The original author is of opinion that the adapter has not mended but marred his work.
1877. R. H. Hutton, Ess. (ed. 2), I. 43. Intelligence is the conscious and voluntary adapter of means to ends.
2. A connecting part: in Chem. a tube to connect two pieces of apparatus; in Optics, a metal ring with screw threads to unite two lengths of a telescope; a ‘sliding fitting’ in an optical instrument.
1808. Sir H. Davy, in Phil. Trans., Vol. XCIX. 454. The adaptors must have contained .8 of a similar gas.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. iii. 170. A flat piece of glass placed at an angle of 45° across the tube, interposed like an adapter between the objective and the microscope-body.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 7. An adapter tube is then fitted to the lateral cylinder. This adapter enters into another tube at the same degree of inclination.
1876. Chambers, Astron., 623. A more simple form of solar eye-piece is that which consists of an adapter in which a diaphragm plate is fitted as above.
