39.—(1) In this Part “adoption” means adoption—
(a)by an adoption order;
(b)by an order made under the Adoption Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(1), the Adoption of Children Act (Northern Ireland) 1950(2) or the Adoption of Children Act (Northern Ireland) 1929(3);
(c)by an order made in England and Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man or in any of the Channel Islands; or
(d)which is an adoption recognised by the law of Northern Ireland and effected under the law of any other country,
and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.
(2) The definition of adoption includes, where the context admits, an adoption effected before the commencement of this Part, and the date of an adoption effected by an order is the date of the making of the order.