EXAPTATION

PRONUNCIATION: (ek-sap-TAY-shuhn)

MEANING: noun: The adaptation of a trait for a purpose other than for which it was evolved.
For example, feathers were evolved for warmth and later co-opted for display and/or flight.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Stephen Jay Gould in 1981. A blend of ex- (out) + adaptation, from ad- (towards) + aptare (to fit), from aptus (apt).
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EXAPSTATION - where I used to get on the subway to go take my Advanced Placement test

MEXAPTATION - major blockbuster movie translated into Spanish

ERAPTATION - emergence from a trance-like state