question: protected Element adapt ( Element source , ElementMetadata < ? , ? > sourceMeta , String kind ) { ElementKey < ? , ? > adaptorKey = sourceMeta . adapt ( kind ) ; if ( adaptorKey != null ) { try { return adapt ( adaptorKey , source ) ; } catch ( ContentCreationException e ) { LOGGER . log ( Level . SEVERE , "Unable to adapt " + source . getClass ( ) + " to " + adaptorKey . getElementType ( ) , e ) ; } } return source ; }
target:  Adapts an element based on a key.  This will find an adaptation in the metadata and adapt to that metadata type (and element type).  If no adaptation is found this will return the source element.