a. Also 7 versatle, versatil, varsatile. [a. F. versatile (16th c., = It. versatile, Sp., Pg. versatil), or ad. L. versātilis, f. versāre: see VERSE v.2]
I. 1. Marked or characterized by changeability or inconstancy; subject to change or fluctuation; variable, changeable.
1605. 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. Quæries on Proposalls of Officers of Armie to Parlt., 4. To mold the versatle hypocrisy of his depraved mind.
1665. Glanvill, Scepsis Sci., xxvi. 16. Those versatile representations in the neck of a Dove.
1682. Burnet, Rights of Princes, Pref. 36. He also observes the Varsatile Temper of the Jesuits.
1791. Burke, Lett. to Member of Nat. Assemb., Wks. 1842, I. 482. The versatile tenderness which marks the irregular and capricious feelings of the populace.
1798. Grant, Surv. Prov. Moray, 279. The number of scholars 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. Kane, Grinnell Exp., ix. (1856), 67. The things were there half an hour ago. I saw them, capricious, versatile, full of forms, but bright and definite as the phases of sober life.
Comb. 1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxiii. 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 versatile-minded Baronet.
b. Of persons: Fickle, inconstant. rare.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, viii. 293. Thomas Becket … was a proud varsatile and factious Man.
1697. Evelyn, Numism., ix. 315. The French, Versatile, Unconstant.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., VII. iv. (1864), IV. 148. The versatile people rose on his side [and] drove out the troops.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, iii. He is too versatile, too soft-hearted and impressionable.
2. Characterized by readiness or facility in turning from one subject, pursuit or task to another; marked by many-sidedness or variety of talent.
In early use somewhat rare; freq. from c. 1795.
1656. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1687), 151/1. He was of a versatile wit, and in composure of his speech a difficult adversary.
1667. Sprat, Hist. Royal Soc., 18. Disputing is a very good instrument, to sharpen mens wits, and to make them versatil.
1791. Cowper, Odyssey, I. 2. Make the man thy theme, for shrewdness famed And genius versatile.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 290. What then is that versatile faculty, called reason?
a. 1828. H. Neele, Lit. Rem., 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. § 6 (1876), 52. His nature was sunny, versatile, artistic.
transf. 1791. Newte, Tour Eng. & Scot., 171. The physical as well as the moral nature of man is extremely versatile, and accommodating to circumstances.
1801. Lusignan, IV. 152. Absorbed 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 or tasks; showing facility in varied subjects; many-sided.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 95. In 1665 the versatile Gerbier published a piece he called Subsidium Peregrinantibus.
1815. W. H. Ireland, Scribbleomania, 213. Of this versatile writer, ah! what should be said.
1841. Macaulay, Ess., W. 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. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (ed. 5), I. 22. An individual, however versatile and extensive in his genius, would soon be exhausted.
1842. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), III. ix. 144. O’Connell is versatile in his words and ways, and the Repeal seems to me incomprehensible.
1872. Minto, Eng. Prose Lit., I. i. 58. He is more versatile in the ‘pitch’ of his style.
II. 4. Capable of being turned round on, or as on, a pivot or hinge; that may be turned different ways. In later use spec. in Ent. and Ornith.
1658. Phillips, Versatile, apt to be wound or turned any way.
1671. R. Bohun, Wind, 72. A feather, or other versatil body.
1678. Phil. Trans., XII. 930. The Eyes resemble a Lens or Convex Glass set in a Versatile globular Socket.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., IV. xliii. 172. Some muscle of this kind must be in Gryllotalpa, and in those that have a versatile head. Ibid., 175. The Head … is sometimes versatile.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVIII. 306/1. Tarsus [in barbets is] shorter than the versatile toe.
1872. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 200. Hallux of average length,… outer toe more or less perfectly versatile (but never permanently reversed).
b. Bot. Of an anther: Swinging or turning about freely on a filament to which it is attached.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., III. xxii. (1765), 228. The Anthera is versatile and incumbent, when it is fastened on at its Side.
1787. Families of Plants, I. 254. Anthers oblong, versatile.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 47. Their small round and versatile anthers.
1861. S. Thomson, Wild Fl., I. (ed. 4), 65. The filament … may … be so attached to some point of the anther as to allow it to swing loosely, when a versatile anther is constituted.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 182. Dipsaceæ,… anthers versatile.
c. Of a leaf: Turning either way. rare–1.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 335. Populus tremula…. Leaves 1–4 in., versatile.
Hence Versatilely adv., Versatileness.
1646. Gaule, Cases Consc., 130. [A witch] that works not only darkly and closely, but variously and versatilly, as God will permit [etc.].
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Iustine, viii. 129. According to the versatilness of his wit.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Versatileness, aptness to be turned or wound any way.
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, Mutability of Man, 20. Versatileness attends him still; A deep inwoven art Conceals … the guile And rancour of his heart.
1870. New-Orleans Times, 12 Jan., 1/4. As Sindbad, Lydia runs versatilely. She is Sindbad, the Sailor—Sindbad, disguised as the ‘girl of the period’—and Sindbad in a costume not all marine, wandering, intent on mischief, in the garden of the Sultan’s Palace.
1872. M. Collins, Two Plunges for Pearl, iv. An intellect so different from his own—so versatilely fluent, yet passionately obstinate.
