[ad. L. coaptātiōn-em fitting together (in Augustine), n. of action f. coaptāre (see above): so in mod.F. in sense c.] Adaptation or adjustment of things, parts, etc., to each other; fitting together.
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., Pref. C ij. The frame and coaptacion of the bodye of man.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., 370. The … Co-aptation of the Spring, Wheels, Ballance, and other Parts.
1725. Broome, Odyssey, III. XIV. 229, note (J.). The judicious coaptation and ranging of the words.
a. 1834. Coleridge, Shaks. Notes (1849), 85. The coaptation and union of the elements.
† b. as a condition. Obs.
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 291. Cohabitation of place seekes or makes coaptation of manners.
1688. Norris, Theory Love, I. ii. 10. A certain Connaturality or Coaptation of the Soul to good.
c. spec. in Surg. The fitting together or adjustment of the ends of a fractured bone, setting; the replacement of a dislocated bone.
1783. P. Pott, Chirurg. Wks., I. 377. The general doctrine relative to fractures … Coaptation or setting.
1807–26. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 279. The ends of the bone may be put into a state of coaptation with the greatest ease.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 448/1. Fractures … submitted … to the maintenance of exact co-aptation for months.
