versatile

versatile
adjective Etymology: French or Latin; French, from Latin versatilis turning easily, from versare to turn, frequentative of vertere Date: 1605 1. changing or fluctuating readily ; variable <
a versatile disposition
>
2. embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also turning with ease from one thing to another 3. a. (1) capable of turning forward or backward ; reversible <
a versatile toe of a bird
>
(2) capable of moving laterally and up and down <
versatile antennae
>
b. of an anther having the filaments attached at or near the middle so as to swing freely 4. having many uses or applications <
versatile building material
>
versatilely adverbversatileness noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • versatile — [ vɛrsatil ] adj. • 1588; épée versatile « à deux tranchants » 1530; lat. versatilis, de versare → verser ♦ Sujet à changer facilement d opinion; exposé à des revirements soudains. ⇒ changeant, inconstant, lunatique. Un esprit, un caractère… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Versatile — Ver sa*tile, a. [L. versatilis, fr. versare to turn around, v. freq. of vertere: cf. F. versatile. See {Verse}.] 1. Capable of being turned round. Harte. [1913 Webster] 2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable; unsteady;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • versatile — versatile, many sided, all around can all mean marked by or showing skill or ability or capacity or usefulness of many different kinds. When applied to persons, versatile stresses aptitude and facility in many different activities requiring skill …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Versatile — is a Canadian brand of agricultural equipment that has produced augers, swathers, combine harvesters and most notably tractors. The company, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, currently belongs to Buhler Industries. In the 1970s, it was an… …   Wikipedia

  • versatile — [vʉr′sə təl; ] chiefly Brit [, vʉr′sətīl΄] adj. [Fr < L versatilis, that turns around, movable, versatile < versatus, pp. of versare, to turn often, freq. of vertere, to turn: see VERSE] 1. a) competent in many things; able to turn easily… …   English World dictionary

  • versatile — index artful, mutable, pliable, protean, resourceful Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • versatile — /ver satile/ agg. [dal lat. versatĭlis, der. di versare girare ]. 1. [di persona, capacità e sim., che sa volgersi a opere e attività diverse: ingegno v. ] ▶◀ eclettico, flessibile, multiforme, poliedrico, proteiforme. ‖ articolato. ◀▶ rigido.… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • versatile — c.1600, from L. versatilis turning, revolving, moving, capable of turning to varied subjects or tasks, from pp. stem of versare keep turning, be engaged in something, turn over in the mind, frequentative of vertere to turn (see VERSUS (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • versatile — [adj] adjustable, flexible able, accomplished, adaptable, adroit, all around, all purpose, ambidextrous, conversant, dexterous, elastic, facile, functional, gifted, handy, ingenuous, many sided, mobile, multifaceted, plastic, pliable, protean,… …   New thesaurus

  • versatile — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities. DERIVATIVES versatility noun. ORIGIN Latin versatilis, from versare turn about, revolve …   English terms dictionary

  • versatile — 01. Singh is a [versatile] player, strong on both offence and defense. 02. The [versatility] of this van has made it the most popular family vehicle on the road today. 03. This [versatile] tool has a number of different uses in the home. 04.… …   Grammatical examples in English

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