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VERSE.
Students while versing themselves in the classics were [etc.]-
1898 K. F. HoRTON Covtnianiim. yvsus ,\x. 362 This is my
own feeling—a feeling which grows and intensifies the more
I verse myself in His commandments.
the Sine, and b r the Sine complement of the Arch B b : BU
is the versed Sine of the same. 1763 Emerson A/et/t. Inert'
vtenis 91 Hence we have the following series of versed sines.
t8s8 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 319 The arcs being
similar, the versed sines are proportional to the arcs or
to their radii, 1853 Sir H. Douglas Milit. Bridges (ed. 3)
43 A segment of a sphere whose radius is r, the sagitta, or
versed sine, being a.
b. Bridge- building. The rise of an arch.
1838 C;W/ Fng. ^ Arch. "Jml. L 127/1 The Dover road Is
earned over the rail way by aflat segmental arch, 30 feet span,
the rise or versed sine [printed line] Ls only two feet. 1839
Ibid. \\. 191/2 Span of the arch.. 58 feet—the rise or versed
sine being ten feet. 1879 Casselfs Techn. £duc. IV. 384/1
It forms the strongest arch;, .but in consequence of the
height of the versed sine.. it becomes necessary. .to limit
the span.
1 2. Versed scale, a scale of versed sines. Obs.
a i6ci S. FosTEE Descr. li tiler \\\\. 31 The Versed Scale
is in length four times the same Radius. Ibid. 32 Let the
'tangents.. be measured out of the Versed Scale.
Versed (varst), ///. a.^ Also 7 verst. [ad.
L. versdtuSf-psL. pple, oi versdri io occupy oneself,
be busied or engaged (in something). So V.vers^^
It. versatOy .Sp. and Pg. versado,'\
1. Of persons: Experienced, practised, or skilled
in a subject, matter, art, etc.; conversant with,
having an intimate knowledge of, something;
expert, skilful ; = Versaxt a, 2 a.
Very frequent from c 1630 in this and sense t b.
i6aa Bacon Hem. VII, 1 6 (The bishops of Ely and Exeter)
had bcene both versed in his Aflaires, before hee came to the
Crowne. 1663 Gkrbier Counsel 24 A Clarke of the works
must be verst m the prises of Materials. x686 tr. Ckardin's
Trav. Persia 34 Levant Merchants, and others that were
verst in the AfTatrs of Turkey. 171a Hrarne Collect.
(O.H.S.) III. 361 Neither of us being vers'd in Latin. 1769
yunius Lett. xii. (17S8) 80, I am not versed in the politics
of the north. i8n W. Irving Braceb. Hall xviii, The
servants are all versed in the common modes of trying luck.
1843 Mill Logic 1. i. $ i A mind not previously versed in
the meaning and right use of the various kinds of words.
x88o L, Stkphen /V/V vi. 137 Curll was.. versed in every
dirty trick of the Grub-street trade.
D. With defining or limiting adverbs, esp. weil
{better, best) versed,
ia) a 1610 Healey Theophrastus To Rdr. (1616) I 3b,
Such as are well verst in Anttquttie. 1653 W. Ramrsey
Astral, Restored 160 A PhysicLin..must bebetter veised in
his Art before he can do any thing. 1655 Nicholas Faf>ers
(Camden) II. 176 He is certainly best versed in all his
Majesty's present affairs. 1711 Addisom Sfect. No. 108 p 3
He Is extreamly well versed in all the little Handicrafts of
an idle Man. 1791 Burkk Apfi. li'higs Wks. 1808 VI. 18
Men [sc. Jews] well versed in swearing, iSasCosBETT A^w/-.
Rides 2T) He was very well versed in his prayer-book. 1841
Borrow Zincali 11, xL 111. 56 Reverend gentlemen.. much
better versed in the points of a horse than in points of
theology. 1874 Hurnand My time xxix. 277 Our tutor was
sufficiently well versed in his subjects.
Kh i6^ W. TiRWHYT tr. Balzac s Lett.KXs, A man no less
versed in the art of well-speaking then himself. 1641 Vind.
Snuctymnuits x. 107 He that is but meanly versed tn Cyprian.
i66a Stil[.in(;i-l. Orig. Sacr. iii. iv. § 10 Those who profess
themselves most versed in their own Antiquities, a 1711
pRiOK Ess. Learning p 3 Other parts of general L«arning in
which they may not be so perfectly versed, 1747 tr. Astruc's
Fevers 106 He was ilUversed m anatomy, botany and
chemistry. 1780 J. Picklrinc in Jesse Selwyn ^ Contem^,
143
(1844) IV. 356, I wish I was sufficiently versed in politics 1
[etc.J. 181S W. H. Irkl^nu Scribbleotuania 190, I am not
much versed in Egyptian hieroglyphics. 1836 H. Coleridge I
North. H'ortJiies Inirod. (1852) p. xxiv. Men long versed in !
17*8 Young Love Fame 191 All other trades demand,
verse-makers beg. 1791 Boswell yohnson {1904) 11. 124 A
mere verse-maker, in whose numbers.. there is no poetry.
1836 SoL'THEV in Li/e ^ Corr. V\. 302 The versemaker gets
the habit of weighing the meanings and qualities of words.
1871 Tvlor Prim. Cult. I. 269 What we call poetry was to
them real life, not as to the modern versemaker a masquerade
of gods and heroes.
Verseman (vausmsen). Also verse man,
verse-man. [f. as prec. + Man sb.'\ A man who
a versemaker; a poet, esp. (in recent
..were cordially recognised even
mongers of the day.
by the scurrilous verse-
Hence Ve'rsemongerinff vbi. sb., Te'rsemonyarjr.
1836 Frasers Mag. XIV. 488 Earning his bread by
scribbleincnt and verse-mongery. 1875 Lowkll Spenser
Prose Wks. 1890 IV, 268 There is little to distinguish it from
the contemporary verse-mongering south of the Tweed.
Verser ^ (va'jsai). [f. Verse v.^ + -er i. Cf.
versyowre s.v, Vehsifikr i a, quot. c 1440.] A
writer of verse ; a verseman, versifier.
cx^xx Chapman Iliad xitr. Comm., Such as abuse the
name of Critics as many versers do of poets. 16x9 Drlmm.
OF Hawth. Conv. w. Ben yonson vVks. (1711) 225 He
thought not Bartas a poet, but a verser ; because he wrote
not fiction. 1644-58 Cleveland Gen. Poems (1677) 63 O
That 1 could but vote my self a Poet, . .Or like the IJociors
Militant could get Dubb'd at adventure Verser Banneret,
1854 Mrs. Oliphant Magd. Hepburn \. 9 The archer
Simon, . . a verser as much as a bowman. 1907 Westm. Gaz.
21 Aug. 4 I The invidious task of separating the poets from
the versers,
+ Verser2. Cant, [Cf. Verse 7',^] One of
a gang of cozeners or swindlers (see quots.).
£"1550 Dice-Tlay (Percy Soc.) 38 He lightly bath in his
company a man of more worship than himself, that hath
the countenance of a possessioner of land, and he is called
the verser. 1591 Greene Discov. Cosenage x There bee
requisite effectually to act the Art of Conny-catching, three
seuerall parties : the Setter, the Verser, and the Barnackle,
Ibid. 3 Imagine the Connie is in the Tauerne, then .sits
down the Verser, and saith to the .Setter, what sirha, wilt
thou giue mee a quart of wine, or .shall I giue thee one?
ietc.]. 1606 Chapuan Mons. D'Ot. iv. i. F iij b, D'Ol. Can
le verse? Pae, I, and sett too, my Lord; Hec's both a
Setter and a Verser.
VERSICLE.
Verset (v5-jset). Also 5 werset. [n. OK.
(also motl.F.) verset ( = Prov. verset, Pg. verseto,
It. vcrsetto), dim. o( vers Verse sd.']
•f VcrSGt 2'*^ Cant, Obs. [Of uncertain origin j
I
;
perh. a special sense of Verse v.- Cf. Verser 2.]
1. inir. To practise fraud or imposition. Also
with it,
159X IGvx.^^v.De/.Conny-catch. (1859)4, I had consorts
that could verse, nippe, and foyst. 1591 Grf.kne Discov.
Cosenage 10 b, If the poore Farmar be bashfuU, and
passeth by one of these shameles strumpets, then wil she
verse it with him, and claime acquaintance of him. c 159a
— Theeues Falling out (1615) A iv, We gee so neate in
appareU.. that wee are hardlysmoakt; versing vpon all men
with kinde courtesies and faire wordes.
2. trans. To impose upon ; to cozen, cheat, defraud.
Also const, to.
1591 Grerne Discov. Coseuage 10 b, Till shee and her
CTOsse-biters haue verst him to the beggers estate. Ibid. 1 1 b,
Heere is a Simpler, quoth shee, He Verse him or hang me.
Hence f Versing vbl, sO. Cant. Obs.
1591 Greene Discov. Cosenage 7 Versing Law, coosenage
by false gold.
Verse, obs. form of Verst.
t Verse-coloured, obs. var. Versicoloured a.
1607 TopsEi.L Four-/. Beasts 57 The Chamaeleon and
Polypus-fish, are pilled or bare without haire,and therefore
may more easily be verse-coloured.
Versed (vaJst), a. [f. mod.L. vers-ns (so.
5inus)j pa. pple. of L. verterc to turn.]
L Versed sine, a. TVz^f. Originally, the segment
of the diameter intercepted between the foot of tiie
sine and the extremity of the arc; in mod. use, the
ratio of this line to the radius, or (equivalently, as
a function of an angle) the quantity obtained by
subtracting the cosine from unity.
In mod. use also in the contracted form Versim.
1596 W. B(urrough] Variation 0/ Covipasse Bsb, The
versed signe of the semidiumall arlce. a 165a S. Fostkr
Descr. RuUr^ A large Scale of Versed-Sines. 1690 Li.v-
BOURN Curs. Math. ^97 The Line VS . . is the Line of Versed
Sines. z73aHADLF.vin /'////. V'rawj. XXXVU. 353Draw^ D
public affairs. 1888 Burgon I^ives 12 C,d. Men I. iii. 346
He.. delivered his opinion.. like one thoroughly versed in
the law of farms.
o. Without const, rare.
1734 tr. Rollings A nc, 11ist. win. in. (1841) II. 214/1 A
general.. prudent, able, versed by long experience. 1888
Pall Mall G.z^y^h.t/i Observing that Lord Randolph
Churchill used to keep the Premier and Foreign Secretary
combined in order, which at present there was no one in the
Cabinet versed enough or bold enough to do.
f 2, Employed or exercised about something
— Vebsant a. I. Obs.-~^
1654 ViLVAiN Theol. Treat. \\. 80 Hope is properly versed
about some good to be attained by industry.
Versed {\^i%^ippL a.'^ [f. Vebse z^.^J Composed
or written in verse ; turned into verse.
1890 Athenxutn 27 Dec. 896/2 Monsieur Pon/, the versed
biography of a dog. 1901 Dublin Rev, Apr. 413 Versed
commonplaces set to florid music.
Ve*rseless, a. [f. Vkrse sb^ Lacking verse
or poetry ; unable to compose verses.
1738 Gentl. Mag.yXW, 655\erseless myself, I conn'd not
blithsom song ; Nor lute had I, nor harp, nor tuneful lyre.
Ve'rselet. [f. Verse sb. + -let.] A little
verse ; a small poem.
1836 B. D. Walsh Aristophanes^ Achamians 11. iii. 43
His mind, which is collecting Small verseleis out of doors, is
not at home. 1865 Reader No. 151. 567/2 Each page containing
a verselet. x88o Warren Book-platcs i. 8 Mottoes,
texts, and verselets directed against borrowers.
Ve'rsenxaker. Also verse-maker, verse
maker, [f. Vebse sb. + Maker sb. Cf, Du.
verzenmaker y G. versmaeher. Da. versentager."]
One who makes or writes verses ; a poet or versifier.
1647 Hexham i. s.v., A verse maker, or a Poet, . .een Poet.
1. = Verse sb. 2, Versicle i. Now //ist.
a 1225 Ancr. R. 16 Sigge3 so al Se imne vt mid te uerset
* Emitte Spiritum tuum'. Ibid. 42 Her siggeS fiftiauez..,
alast l^et uerset, ' Ecce anciila Domini ' [etc.]. 1377 Langl.
/'. Pi, B. XII. 189 Doininus pars hereditntis mee is a nieri
verset. ^ 1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) i6 Wen l^ai [i.e.
psalms] ere said and te verset, l>abbasse saie ^>e benecun.
Ibid., And efter[sing] ol>ir sexe salmis wid ^^e antefens, . .wid
|>e werset. 1641 Milton Auimadv. Wks. 1851 III. 209
They beare an equall part with the Priest in many places,
and have their cues and versets as well as he. 1844
LiSGARD Angto-Sa.r. Ch. (185B) I. App. M. 378 The manuscript,
both here and in several other places, interposes two
versets with their responses.
2. A little or short verse, esp. one of the Bible or
similar book ; a sliort piece of veise.
1625 Lisle Du Barias, Noe Pref. i Among the sundrie
versets or presets which besides this I have or shall set out.
1861 I. Taylor Spir. Ilebr. Pcetjy 335 The metrical Scriptures—
infixed as they were in the memory by the very
means of these artificial devices of versets,.. became food to
the mind. i888 Doughty Arabia Desei'ta I. 143 A Koran
verset is often written above,
Versical (vausikal), a, rare. [f. VeR8E sb.
+ -ICAL, ^i\.tx poetical, metrical^ Of or pertaining
to, of the nature of, composed or written in, verse.
i8s4 TaiVs JMog. XXI. 257 He already made some
versical efforts in the literary periodicals of Vienna. 1886
R. K. Burton Arab. Nts. (Abr. ed.) I. Forew. p. xiv. When
treating the versical portion,., i have not always bound myself
by the metrical bonds of the Arabic.
Versicle (,v5'jsik'l),^^. Also 5 5V-, wersikill,
5-6 versycle, 6 versickiL [ad, L. versicui-us
Versiculus, Cf, Versicule.]
1. Liturg, One of a series of short sentences,
usually taken from the Psalms and of a precatory
nature, said or sung antiphonally in divine service;
spec, one said by the officiant and followed by the
response of the congregation or people ; often
collect.pl., a set of these with their accompanying
responses.
a 1380 St. Paula 191 in Horstm. ^//^wg-/. Leg. (1878) 7
peos versicles heo seide and bad. 1425 in Entick London
{1766J IV. 354 'Ihis psalm, de profundis, with the versicles
and Orissons that longetli thereto, i486 Rec. St. Alary at
I
writes verse ;
use) a minor poet or versifier.
165a Gaule Magnstrom, 235 To conclude, all the antient
verse men consent in this. 1718 Prior Better Answer v.
The God of us Verse-men (you know Child) the Sun. 1733
[see ProsemanI. 1779 Johnson L. P., Prior p 13 When the
battle of Blenheim called forth all the versemen. 1847 L.
HuNTi1/^«, Women, ^ B. I. xv. 300 Even miserly Pulteney
was a verseman. 1883 Pall Mall C. 30 Oct. 5/1 Almost
alone among recent English versemen, he preser\es . . a finegenilemanly
air of urbanity. 189a A. Dobson 18/A Cent.
Vignettes 171 Madrigalists and minor versemen.
Hence TeTseznansliip, verse-makinp. rare~^,
176a J. Wilkes N. Briton No. az. The dull mechanical
part of verseinanship indeed b found, but the spirit of true
poetry is wanting.
Versemonger (vd'jsmz^ijgaj). Also versemonger,
[f. as prec. +• Monger.] A versifier,
esp. one who writes poor or indifferent verse; a
Hill (1905) 16 To go on procession . , syngyng a Respond , .;
that done, a versicle with the colet of S^ Stephen. 1570 W.
FuLKE Ref. Rastel 743 The very sound and sense of the.
Respondes, and Versicles, declare whence thej^ proceeded.
1625 GonsiUz'io's Sp. Inquis. 97 The Psalme being ended .
.
the chiefe Inquisitour singeth a sort of Versicles: and the
whole Quier answereth them with their Responses. 1631
Brathwaite Whimsies, Zealous Brother 120 Anthems and
versicles he holds papisiicall. 1710 Wheatlv Bk. Com.
Prayer \\. § 21. 50 Of the Versicles before the Lord's
Prayer. 1721 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. VIIL 295 The
Ordinary Discipline is to last the time of a Miserere, with
the Versicle Christus /actus est, and the prayer Respite
guxsumus. 1795 Mason Ch. Mus. \\. 154 Tlie unaccompanied
Chaunt, used in the versicles and responses. 1832
W. Palmer Orig. Liturg. I. 219 From this it appears, that
these versicles were not, perhaps, originally repeated in
church, but at home, as a preparation for divine service.
1893 W. Walker Three Churchmen 175 When he repeated
the versicle 'Lord save this woman, Thy servant !* the
clerk responded [etc.].
b. The sign {V, V\ If, or^)\vith which these
poetaster.
are noted or indicated in prayer-books, etc.
1634 Bp. Hall Contempt., N, T. iv. xii. Which of those
versemongers ever durst write a ballad, without imploring
of some deity? 1768 Babetti Acc. Mann. Sf Cust. Italy
I. 234 Some few verse-mongers of Rome. 1866 Bi^ackib
Homer J^ Iliad I, 120 A set of inferior versemongers. 190a
W. L. Mathieson Pol. Relig. Scott. I. x. 338 His virtues