adoption

n. [ L. adoptio, allied to adoptare to adopt: cf. F. adoption. ] 1. The act of adopting, or state of being adopted; voluntary acceptance of a child of other parents to be the same as one's own child. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Admission to a more intimate relation; reception; as, the adoption of persons into hospitals or monasteries, or of one society into another. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so; acceptance; as, the adoption of opinions. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]