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Webster 1913 Edition

Versatile

Ver′sa-tile

,
Adj.
[L.
versatilis
, fr.
versare
to turn around, v. freq. of
vertere
: cf. F.
versatile
. See
Verse
.]
1.
Capable of being turned round.
Harte.
2.
Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; inconstant;
as, a
versatile
disposition
.
3.
Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided;
as,
versatile
genius; a
versatile
politician
.
Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . . was the quick and
versatile
[Charles] Montagu.
Macaulay.
4.
(Nat. Hist.)
Capable of turning; freely movable;
as, a
versatile
anther, which is fixed at one point to the filament, and hence is very easily turned around; a
versatile
toe of a bird.
–
Ver′sa-tile-ly
,
adv.
– –
Ver′sa-tile-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Versatile

VERS'ATILE

,
Adj.
[L. versatilis, from versor, to turn.]
1.
That may be turned round; as a versatile boat or spindle.
2.
Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady; as a man of versatile disposition.
3.
Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; as a man of versatile genius.
4.
In botany, a versatile anther is one fixed by the middle on the point of the filament, and so poised as to turn like the needle of a compass; fixed by its side, but freely movable.

Definition 2024

versatile

versatile

English

Adjective

versatile ‎(comparative more versatile, superlative most versatile)

  1. Capable of doing many things competently.
  2. Having varied uses or many functions.
  3. Changeable or inconstant.
  4. (biology) Capable of moving freely in all directions.
    • 1996, William G. D'Arcy, William G. D'Arcy, Richard C. Keating, editor, The anther: form, function, and phylogeny:
      The versatile anther is an important step up in flowering plant evolution and it may be the most widespread of all simple anther types.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Italian

Etymology

From Latin versatilis, from versare ‎(“to turn, to twist”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [verˈsaː.t̪i.le], /verˈsatile/

Adjective

versatile m, f ‎(masculine and feminine plural versatili)

  1. versatile

Derived terms

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

versātile

  1. nominative neuter singular of versātilis
  2. accusative neuter singular of versātilis
  3. vocative neuter singular of versātilis

Romanian

Adjective

versatile f pl, n pl

  1. feminine plural nominative form of versatil
  2. feminine plural accusative form of versatil
  3. neuter plural nominative form of versatil
  4. neuter plural accusative form of versatil

Etymology

From Latin versātilis ‎(“turning easily”), from versātus, past participle of versō ‎(“I turn, change”), frequentative of vertō ‎(“I turn”).

Pronunciation

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