also 5 at part. [Fr. à part, f. à to, part place, side; though formally identified with Eng. phrases like a-side, a-head, the various senses closely follow the Fr.]
1. To one side, aside, to a place removed from the general body. a. of motion.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 636. Adrow him apart þanne and saide.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xiv. 13. He retired … into a desert place apart.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 282. Thy heart is bigge, get thee a-part and weepe.
1672. Dryden, Conq. Granada, I. I. i. I saw him ride a-part.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., 2nd S. Christm. ii. Then stole apart to weep and die.
b. of position.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 384. Two … preysed þe penyworthes, apart by hem-selue.
1432. Paston Lett., 18, I. 34. Speche … had unto the King at part and in prive.
1528. More, Heresyes, III. Wks. 1557, 245/1. Our sauiour at tyme taught his apostles a part.
1611. Bible, 2 Macc. xiii. 13. Iudas being apart with the Elders.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 498, ¶ 3. When they were apart, the impostor revealed himself.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., 3rd S. Epiph. ii. As I walk and muse apart.
2. Apart from each other, separately; asunder, parted. (Also of the parts of a thing.)
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeless, IV. 36. Comliche a clerk than … pronouncid þe poyntis aparte to hem alle.
1728. Newton, Chronol. Amend., i. 177. The Spartans lived in villages apart.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. i. 41. They died three hours apart.
1829. Hood, E. Aram, iv. His hat was off, his vest apart.
3. Separately in consideration; as a separate or distinct object of thought.
1577–87. Harrison, Engl., I. II. xxiv. 356. To deale with some of these antiquities apart.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ix. § 3. The inquiry touching human nature entire, as a just portion of knowledge to be handled apart.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 54. Let us view each ingredient apart.
1843. Mill, Logic, II. vi. § 1. This is a case which merits examination apart.
4. Away from others in action or function; separately, independently, individually.
c. 1400. Test. Love, III. (R.). Ye han in your bodie diuers members … euerich aparte to his owne doing.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1632), 304. To make those things subsist a-part which haue the selfe-same generall Nature.
1649. Selden, Laws of Eng., I. xvii. (1739), 34. Their power … was exercised either collectively, or apart and severally.
1794. Sullivan, View of Nat., I. 97. All that they have each of them apart imagined.
1870. Bryant, Homer, I. I. 30. When I form designs Apart from all the gods.
b. In this sense it often acquires by ellipsis of being, standing, existing, etc., an adjective force = Separate. (Cf. Fr. c’est un homme à part.)
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 34. Qualities and accomplishments … which might form a chapter apart for her.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 331. The London clergy were always spoken of as a class apart.
1868. Mill, Eng. & Irel., 9. There is no other civilized nation which is so far apart from Ireland in the character of its history.
5. fig. Aside, away from all employment or consideration, as in To set, lay, put apart: to put away, dismiss. (Fr. mettre, laisser à part.) arch.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 1. Whiche grace … hath compelled me to sette aparte alle ingratitude.
1558. Knox, Regim. Wom. (1878), 20. All shame laid a parte, they … learned the feates of warre.
1611. Bible, James i. 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., East. Tues. viii. Let Pleasure go, put Care apart.
b. In absolute phrases, as ‘jesting apart’ (Fr. raillerie à part) = Laid aside, put out of question.
1732. Berkeley, Min. Philos., I. 52. But, Authority apart, what do you say to Experience?
a. 1744. Pope, Epil. J. Shore, 11. But let me die, all raillery apart.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. ix. 20. However, jesting apart, get your hat.
6. Away from common use for a special purpose. To set apart: to separate, devote, consecrate. (Fr. mettre à part.)
1604. Hieron, Wks., I. 492. Whom God did neuer set a part to that holy seruice.
1611. Bible, Ex. xiii. 12. Thou shalt set apart [Coverdale, sunder out] vnto the Lord all that openeth the matrix.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 13. If no places were set apart for the worship of God.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 10, ¶ 2. Families that set apart an Hour in every Morning for Tea.
1853. Maurice, Proph. & Kings, ii. 22. A portion of the sacrifice was set apart for him.
7. Const. In all senses it may be followed by from.
1617. Janua Ling., 523. Let us be separated a-part from the company.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, I. v. 87. I see no crime in Elizabeth’s taste apart from the means.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. § 16. 312. What then can the viscous theory mean apart from the facts?
1862. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xiii. 184. The precise period at which the Commons first sat apart from the Lords is equally unknown.
¶ From is rarely omitted, leaving apart to act as a preposition = Away from. (Common in Fr.)
1615. Chapman, Odyss., I. 289. Apart this city, in the harbour.
