Versatileness

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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     2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable;


        unsteady; inconstant; as, a versatile disposition.
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     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.
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              Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . .
              was the quick and versatile [Charles] Montagu.
                                                    --Macaulay.
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     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.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Ver"sa*tile*ly}, adv. -- --
        {Ver"sa*tile*ness}, n.
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