versutus Latin · revision 33082

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *uert-e/o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [wɛrˈsuː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [verˈsuː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''versūtus''' (feminine versūta, neuter versūtum, comparative versūtior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|versus|-ūtus|t1=turned]], formed like [[m|la|astūtus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|vertō|t=to turn]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*wert-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*uert-e/o-|t=to turn]], cognate with [[sa|वर्तते|tr=vártate|t=turns]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan finds it first in Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates it from Cicero.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes someone full of stratagems or shifts, wily or cunning, usually in a bad sense.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Lewis & Short also give a good sense, adroit or clever: Cicero calls people ''versūtī'' whose minds turn quickly.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of schemes it means crafty: Cicero says a case should be judged by fairness, not by clever and crafty law, and calls malice a crafty and deceitful way of doing harm.^(OLD 2012) Grattius uses it of following the twisting tracks of a hare.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein groups it with [[astūtus]] and [[callidus]] as words for cunning.^(Döderlein 1874) Stelten gives "crafty, subtle" for Church Latin.^(Stelten 1995) The old spelling is ''vorsūtus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of crafty law and of quick minds.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Full of shifts, [[m|en|wily]], [[m|en|cunning]], crafty (usually in a bad sense).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(in a good sense)'' Adroit, versatile, clever.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of schemes)'' Crafty, deceitful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[versūtia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vertō]]

+ * [[astūtus]]

+ * [[callidus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}