Verse

vers, n. A line consisting of a certain number of long and short syllables, disposed according to metrical rules; metrical arrangement and language; poetry; commonly but improp., a short division of poetical composition, a stanza! stave; a short division of any composition, esp. of the chapters in the Old and New Testaments a piece of poetr}-. [L. versus, a furrow, row, line in writing, and, in poetry, a verse, prop. p. p. of vertere, version, to turn, turn round; advert, adverse, advertise, animadvert, anniversary, avert, convert, converse, divers, divorce, inadvertent, invert, malversation, obverse, pervert, revert, subvert, tergiversation, transverse, traverse, universe, etc.] — Blank verse. Poetr}- in which the lines do not end ia rhymes. —Heroic v. (Pros.) A kind of verse usually consisting of 10 syllables, or in Eng., of 5 accented syllables, constituting 5 feet. — Ver'- aua, prep. Against, — chiefly in legal language. [L., toward, in the direction of, fr. vertere.]— Ver'so, n. (Print.) The reverse or left-hand page of a book or folded sheet of paper. — Versed, verst, p. a. Acquainted or familiar, as the result of experience, study, practice, etc.; skilled; practiced. [L. versatus, p. of versari, to turn about frequently, turn over, E.e engaged in a thing.] — Ver's ion, -shun. n. Act of translating a translation that which rendered from another language; a statement or account of something from some special point of view. [F.; LL. versio, L. vertere.] — Ver's icle, -st-kl, n. A little verse. [L. versiculus, dim. of versus.] — Ver's icol'or, -col'ored, -kul'erd, a. Having various colors; changeable in color. [L. versicolor, fr. versare, to turn, to change, and color, color.] —Ver's ify, v. [-fied (-fid), -fyikg.] To make verses.— v. To relate or describe in verse; to turn into verse. [F. versifier, L. vers if i care, versus undfacere, to make.]— Ver sifica'tion, n. Act, art, or practice of versifying metrical composition. [F.] — Ver's in'er, n. One who makes verses one who expre es in verse the ideas of another written in prose.—Versatile, a. Liable to be turned in opinion; turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects variable changeable unsteady; fickle. (Kat.Hist.) Capable of revolving freelv movable, --as a versatile anther, which is fixed at one point, but freelv movable. [F. versatil, L. versatile, versare, -satum, to turn often, freq. of vertere.] — Ver's atUenesB, Versatility, n. State or quality of being versatile aptne to change; variablene faculty of easily turn- _ ing one's mind to new tasks ersatile Anthers. or subjects. — Ver'tebra, -te-bra, n.; pi. -br.e, -bre. (Anat A joint or s e g m e n of the back-bone or spinal column in a fish, reptile, bird, or quadruped, and in man: see Skeleton. [L., vertere.] — Ver'tebral, a. Of,or pertaining to, the joints of the spine or back-bone; hav- Vertebrae in Man. ing n back-bone. — Ver'tebrate a or vertel ra supporting the head -brat, n. An anib °eut" " VERST 654 pal or highest point; top; summit; crown; esp., the crown of the head; the zenith, or point of the heavens directly overhead. (Math.) The point in any figure opposite to, and furthest from, the base the top or point opposite the base. [L., prop, that which turns or revolves about itself, fr. vertere.] — Vertical, -tik-al, a. Situated at the vertex or highest point; directly overhead, or in the zenith; perpendicularly above one perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb. [F. L. vertical is.] —Ver'- tically, adv. In a vertical manner; from above downward.—Ver'ticalne , ».—Vertic'illate.-la'ted, -tis'- il-la'ted, a. (Bot.) Arranged in a ring or whorl; arranged around a stem or pedicel, like the rays of a wheel. [NL. verticil lat us, vertex.] — Ver'tigo, -tY-go, n. Dizzine or swimming off the the head;head; gid-giddine . (Zobl.) A gasteropodous mollusk (land or marsh snail) of several species, with cylindrically fusiform shell. [L., vertere.] — Vertig'inous, -tij'T-nus, a. Turning round; whirling rotary; affected with vertigo giddy dizzy. [L. vertiginosu*, vertigo.] — Vertig'- lnously, adv. With a whirling or giddine . — Vertig'inousne , n. — Vprtims Vor'tex, vSr'teks, E. pi. -texes; L. pi. -tices, -tT-sez. A whirling or circular motion of any fluid, forming a kind of cavity in the center of the circle; a whirlpool; a whirling of the air; a whirlwind. [L., same as vertex.] — Vor'tical, -tT-kal, a. Pert, to or resembling a vortex in form or motion; whirling. — Vor'ticel, -tT-sel, n. (Zool.) One of certain wheel-animalcules, which, by the rapid rotary motion of the organs round the mouth, create a vortex in the water, and thus obtain their food. [NL. vorticella, vortex.]