The phrase "kept apart" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /kɛpt əˈpɑrt/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound, followed by a "p" sound and a "t" sound with no vowel in between. The second syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound, which is an unstressed, neutral vowel sound. The final syllable begins with a "p" sound and ends with a "t" sound, again with no vowel in between. Together, these sounds create the word "kept apart," meaning to separate or distance something or someone from another thing or person.
"Kept apart" refers to the conscious act of separating or maintaining a distance between two or more entities or individuals. It denotes the deliberate effort to prevent or avoid their coming together or being in close proximity. This phrase implies the intentional maintenance of a physical, emotional, or social barrier that restricts interaction, connection, or unity between the parties involved.
From a physical perspective, "kept apart" suggests keeping objects or people segregated in order to control or contain them. For instance, in a museum, valuable artifacts might be displayed within glass cases, effectively keeping them apart from visitors to safeguard their preservation and prevent any accidental damage.
In an emotional sense, "kept apart" refers to the act of deliberately keeping emotions or feelings restrained or separate. It could indicate an individual's conscious effort to contain their emotions, ensuring they do not manifest and interfere with their abilities to make objective decisions or maintain a composed demeanor.
Socially, the term signifies deliberate actions taken to maintain separation between individuals or groups. This can be observed in situations where barriers exist, such as physical boundaries or divisions, to prevent interaction between different communities or parties.
Overall, "kept apart" denotes a conscious and determined effort to preserve distance, separation, or isolation between entities, whether physical, emotional, or social.
The phrase "kept apart" does not have a specific etymology on its own, as it is formed by two separate words: "kept" and "apart". However, we can analyze the etymology of each individual word:
1. Kept: The word "kept" is the past participle of the verb "keep". Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "cēpan", which means "to hold, preserve, or look after". Over time, it developed into "cepan" in Middle English before evolving into its current form.
2. Apart: The word "apart" originated from the combination of the Old English prefix "a-" (meaning "on, at, or to") and the word "part". The Old English word "part" ultimately derives from the Latin term "pars".