[General] discussion of the word 'ept'

[garbanzo]

Hi,

This is the first time I'm submitting something here. Can I ask a question? or suggest something?
If the answer to this is yes, I'd like to suggest discussion of the word 'ept,' plus its meaning. The dictionaries usually say that it's not a word, that, however, the word 'inept' exists - as we all know.
One site, though, mentions the word as having been used by reputable writers (e.g., E. B. White) and that the OED defines the word - although I personally haven't found it on AskOxford.com (Word-detective.com).

Anyway, thanks to everyone in advance for discussing this (if you will, that is).

Best,
garbanzo

[BobK]

Once a word is in the OED it stays there forever.

What the OED says is "Used as a deliberate antonym of ‘inept’: adroit, appropriate, effective."

Some words that have no current positive sense (like 'couth') did once have a meaning independent of their negative counterpart (in that case, 'uncouth'). OED's findings don't suggest this was ever the case with 'ept'. (OED is a subscription-only service, so no link.)

b

[Charlie Bernstein]

E.B. White was a humorist. There are hundreds of words in English that seem like they have prefixes that, removed, would render their opposites, but don't.

inept
inert
unanimous
universe
adept
antimony
avarice
intuit
invoke

E.B. was just having fun.

[Anglika]

Online Etymology Dictionary