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VERSATE.
4. Her. (.See quot.) rarer-".
c i8a8 Berrv Encycl. Her. I. Gloss., Versanti the same as
rcjUvant, called also sursuanti and implies erected, or
elevated.
Ve'rsate, v. rarr-^. [f. L. versa/-, ppl. stem
of versdre : see Versk z".'-] irans. To turn about.
1887 .Va/. A^^rc. 17 Sept. 405 \n edition which we can really
versate in the . . hand without causing the .said hand to droop
and ache.
Versatile (vs-jsatail, va-JsatiU, a. Also 7
versatle, versatil, varsatile. [a. F. versatile
(i6th c, = It. versatile, Sp., Pg. versatil), or ad. L.
versdtilis, f. versare \ see VEKSE7/.2]
I. 1. Marked or characterized by changeability
or inconstancy ; subject to change or flnctuation
variable, changeable.
X605 Bacon Adv. Learn, i. iii. § 6. 15 It is rather the
reuerence which many times both aduerse parts doe giue to
honestie, than any versatile aduantage of their owne carriage.
1659 Quxries on Pri^posalts 0/ Oncers 0/ A rmie to
t'arlt. 4 To mold the versatle hypocrisy "of his depraved
mind. t6b^GLKji\-\n.Sccpsis Sci.xwi. i6i Those versatile
representations in the neck of a Dove. i68a Bubnet Rights
0/ Princes Pref. 36 He also observes the Varsatile Temper of
the Jesuits. 1791 Burke Let. to Member 0/Nat, Assenit).
_Wks. 1842 1. 482 The versatile tenderness which marks the
irregular and capricious feelings of the populace. 1798
Grant Surv. Prov. Moray 279 The number of scholar.s
vibrates from 20 to 90 ; but from the versatile state of the
establishment, it is not possible that [etc.]. 1801 Farmer's
Mag. Jan. 67 Our author, .is of such a versatile disposition,
that., he states [etc.]. 1853 Y^K^iLGrinnelt Exp. ix. (1856) 67
The things were there half an hour ago. I saw them, capricious,
versatile, fuU of forms, but bright and definite as tlie
pha^ies of sober life.
Comb. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis Ixiii, For at one instant
to hate and defy a man,. .and at the next to be. .friendly
with him, was not an unusual process with our versatileminded
Baronet.
satile wit, and in composure of his speech a difficult adversary.
i6«7 Sprat Hist. Royal Soc. 18 Disputing is a very
good instrument, to sharpen mens wit.s, and to make them
versatil. 1791 Cowper Odyssey I. 2 Make the man thy
theme, for shrewdness famed And genius versatile. 1796
H. Hunter tr. St-fierre's Stnd. Nat. Uigg) H. 290 What
then is that versatile faculty, called reason 1 a i8a8 H.
Neele Lit. Kent. 19 Chaucer's genius was vast, versatile
and original. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. 158 A multitude
of other subjects, with which his versatile ability made him
conversant. 1874 Green Short Hist. i. j 6 (1876) 52 His '
nature was sunny, versatile, artistic.
trans/. 1791 Newte Tour Eng. S; Scot. 171 The physical
as well as the moral nature of man is extremely versatile,
and accommodating to circumstances. l9o\ Lusignan IV. I
152 .\bsorbed in meditations and versatile reflections, he
wandered, unconscious of the progress of time.
3. Of persons : Turning easily or readily from
one subject or occupation to another; having an
aptitude or faculty for fresh pursuits
showing facility in varied subjects ;
or tasks;
many-sided.
1761-71 H. Walpole Vertue'sAiucd. Paint. (1786) II. 95 t
In 1665 the versatile Gerbier published a piece he called -
Subsidlum Peregrinantibus. 1815 W. H. Ireland .JcWM/^flmania
213 Of this versatile writer, ah \ what should be
said. 1841 Macaulay Ess., IK Hastings (1851) 634 The
able and versatile Henry Dundas. 1851 Thackeray Eng.
Hum. vi. (1858) 327 The vivid and versatile genius who
has touched on almost every subject of literature. 1874
Stubbs Const. Hist. I, xii. 460 He was an able man of business,
versatile, politic
b. Const, in.
1807 DIsraeli Cur. Lit. (ed- 5) I. 22 An individual, however
versatile and extensive in bis genius, would soon
be exhausted. 184a Miss Mitford in L'Kstrange Li/e
(1870) III. ix. 144 O'Coiinell is versatile in his words and
ways, and the Repeal seems to me incomprehensible. 187a
MiNro Eng. Prose Lit. I. L 58 He is more versatile in the
* pitch ' of his style.
n. 4. Capable of being turned round on, or ,-ts
on, a pivot or hinge; that may be turned different
ways. In later use spec, in Ent. and Oritilh.
1658 Phillips, l^ersatite, apt to be wound or turned any
way. 1671 R. BoHUN WindTi A feather, or other versatil
body. 1678 Phil. Trans. XII. 030 The Eyes resemble a
Lens or Conve* Glass set in a Versatile globular Socket.
1816 KiRBY & ^r. Entouiol. IV. xliii. 172 Some muscle of
this kind must be in Gryllotalpa, and in those that have a '
versatile head. /i/rf. 175 The Head, .is sometimes versa- '
til.. 1840 /'^«)y/ O-c/. XVIII. 306/1 Tarsus [in harbets is)
shorter than the versatile toe. \i^^Qa\>^s N. Amer. Birds
200 Hallux of average length,, .outer toe more or less per-
fectly versatil* (but never permanently reversed). i
b. Bot. Of an anther: Swinging or turning
about freely on a filament to which it is attached. !
i7«o J. Lee Introd. Bot. 111. xxiL (1765) 228 The Anthera
is versatile and incumbent, when it is fastened on at its Side.
1787 Families 0/ Plants I. 254 Anthers oblong,' versatile.
1830 LiNDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 47 Their small round and
versatile anthers. 1861 S. Thomson Wild Ft. i. (ed. 4) 65
The filament.. may.. be so attached to some point of the
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I Versatility
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141
anther as to allow it to bwiiig loosely, when a versatile
anther is constituted. 1870 Hooker Stud, Fhra. 182 Dip-
.anthers versatile.
c. Of a leaf: Turning either way. rare~^,
1870 Hooker Stud. Flora 335 Populus tremula.. .Leaves
1-4 111., versatile.
Hence Ve-rsatilely adv.^ Ve-rsatileness.
1646 Gaule Cases Come. 130 [A witch] that works not only
and closely, but variously and versatilly, as God
permit [etc.]. 1654 R. Codrington tr. lustine viii.
According to the versatilness of his wit. 1787 Bailev
II), Vcrsattleness, aptness to be turned or wound any
1791 J. Le.\rmont Poems, Mutability of Man 20
Versatileness attends him still; A deep inwoven art Conceals
. the . guile And rancour of his heart. 187a M. Collins
FluHges/or Pearl iv. An intellect so different from
his own—so versatilely fluent, yet passionately obstinate.
(vsjsati-lfti;. [a. F. versatUiU
verstttilith, Sp. venatiitdad, Pg. -idade), or
directly f. prec. + -lTY.]
1. The condition or quality in persons, their conduct,
etc., of being changeable, fickle, or inconstant
; tendency or liability to vary in opinion or
; variableness, inconstancy.
175s Johnson, Versatility, the quality of being versatile.
178a V. Knox Ess. xii. (1819) I. 71 This versatility and duplicity
of the gratide vtonde. 1783 W. Thomson WatsotCs
IIf, V, 324 To his holiness, whom they suspected of
a versatility of character, which might soon lead him to rethey
answered [etc.]. 18x4 JJ'Israkl! Quar.Auth.
(1867) 346 We are apt to condemn their versatility of principles
as arising from di>honest motives. 1849 Macaulay
an example of versatility of character. x866 Felton
Ahc./^ Mod. Gr, I. xii. 231 [Aristophanes] reminds us. .still
ofiener of the splendid versatility of poetical genius.. displayed
by Goethe.
c. //. Features or traits of versatile intellect.
1841 D'IsKAELi Amen. Lit. (1859) II. 123 A voluminous
commentary expounded the morality of the ravishing versatilities
of Ariosto.
Diversity of nature or character; variety of
application, etc.
i8oa Plavfair lUustr. Hutton, The. 339 The Huttonian
system cannot boast of theories of equal versatility. i8aa-7
Good Siuynges. c 1450 Myrr. Our Ladye 1x4
What is vnderstonded by the thre lessons wyth the
Responces & verses folowynge. a 1500 Chaucer's Drente
1806 Many orisones and verses, Withoute note full softely
Said were and that full heartily. 1^8-9 (Mar.) Bk. Com,
Prayer Pref,, Respondes, Verses, vaine repeticions. x6a7
Cosins Corr, (Surtces) I. iii Doth he begin with the Lord's
Prayer ; orderly proceeding with the Verses and Responds.
1657 Sparrow Rationale 29 Then follow the Verses, 'O
Lord open Thou our Lips, And our mouth shall shew forth
thy praise'. 176a Evening.Office of Church (ed. 2) Direct.
3 Then is sung the Hymn with its Verse and Responsory.
1763 Burn Ecct. Lam I. 38 The invitatories,_responsories,
verses, collects, and whatever is said or sung in the quire.
1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 91 The Gradual,
AUeluya, and Responsory and Verses.