a·part

[uh-pahrt]
adverb
1.
into pieces or parts; to pieces: to take a watch apart; an old barn falling apart from decay.
2.
separately in place, time, motion, etc.: New York and Tokyo are thousands of miles apart. Our birthdays are three days apart.
3.
to or at one side, with respect to place, purpose, or function: to put money apart for education; to keep apart from the group out of pride.
4.
separately or individually in consideration: each factor viewed apart from the others.
5.
aside (used with a gerund or noun): Joking apart, what do you think?
adjective
6.
having independent or unique qualities, features, or characteristics (usually used following the noun it modifies): a class apart.
00:10
Apart is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
7.
take apart,
a.
to disassemble: to take a clock apart.
b.
Informal. to criticize; attack: She was taken apart for her controversial stand.
c.
to subject to intense examination: He will take your feeble excuses apart.
8.
apart from, aside from; in addition to; besides: Apart from other considerations, time is a factor.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Old French a part to one side. See a-5, part

a·part·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
apart (əˈpɑːt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj, —adv
1.  to pieces or in pieces: he had the television apart on the floor
2.  placed or kept separately or to one side for a particular purpose, reason, etc; aside (esp in the phrases setorput apart)
3.  separate in time, place, or position; at a distance: he stood apart from the group; two points three feet apart
4.  not being taken into account; aside: these difficulties apart, the project ran smoothly
5.  individual; distinct; separate: a race apart
6.  separately or independently in use, thought, or function: considered apart, his reasoning was faulty
7.  (preposition) apart from besides; other than
 
[C14: from Old French a part at (the) side]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

apart
late 14c., from O.Fr. à part "to the side," from L. ad "to" + partem accusative of pars "a side" (see part).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

apart

In addition to the idiom beginning with apart, also see come apart; fall apart; pick apart; poles apart; set apart; take apart; tear apart; tell apart.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Some philosophers, of course, reject the idea that citizens have rights apart
  from what the law happens to give them.
The pellets grow and distort under such pressure, and will eventually break
  apart.
With a feeling of shock she found her thighs nudged apart.
Quite apart from that, over-concision can be jarring and difficult to read,
  which can distract from your point.
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