versatile
/ˈvɝ.sə.təl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.66 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Capable of doing many things competently.
adj
Changeable or inconstant.
adj
Capable of moving freely in all directions.
adj
Capable of being either a dominant or a submissive partner in a sexual relationship.
Example Sentences
- "Ruthanna Boris, a versatile dancer and choreographer who was the first American ballerina to be a star of one of the prestigious Ballets Russes troupes of the ’40s, died Friday at her home in El Cerrito, Calif. She was 88."
- "The paddles were enormously versatile, serving as radio-antenna masts, shovels, ice prods, snow knives, and potential argument settlers—whoever had one in his hand at the time would win."
- "The versatile anther is an important step up in flowering plant evolution and it may be the most widespread of all simple anther types."
- "Among men who do engage in anal intercourse, about one-quarter are tops, one-quarter are bottoms, and one-half are versatile."
Etymology
From Latin versātilis (“turning easily”), from versātus, past participle of versō (“to turn, change”), frequentative of vertō (“to turn”).
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈvɝ.sə.təl/
- British English: /ˈvɜː.səˌtaɪl/
Inflected Forms
more versatile (comparative)
most versatile (superlative)