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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.

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