verruca 
Verruca (ve-rd'ka). .; }>].n-rrurir(-ne). [NI<.. 
< L. vrrrurit, a. wart, a steep place, a height.] 
1. In jiiilhul., a wart. 2. In Intl., a wiirt or 
sessile inland pniduccd iipun various purls "I 
plants, especially upon a tliallns. 3. IB :<,/.. 
a small, flattish, warl-likc prominence ; a ver 
rnciform tubercle. 4. [r>ip.\ A genus of cir- 
ripeds, typical of tlie family I m-in-iil.T. 
verrucano (vcr-o-ka"no), . [< it. ;<//<, 
a hard stone used in crushing-mills, < rrrriirn, 
< L. rrri-iii-ii, a wart.] The name given by Al- 
pine. geologists to 11 conglomerate of more or 
less imperfectly rounded fragments of white 
or pale-red cpiart/., varying in size from that 
of a grain of sand up to that of an egg, held 
together by a cement of reddish, greenish, or 
violet-colored silicioiis or talcose material. It 
occurs In immtTous localities both north anil south of 
the Alps, :iinl in northern Italy, sometimes in masses of 
Kiv:it tnfckncss, which often take on a gnelnsofd or Bchis- 
tose structure. In certain localities the verrucano over- 
lies a slaty rock which contains plants of Carboniferous 
age : hence some geologists have considered it as belong- 
ing to that formation, while others have regarded it as the 
equivalent of the Uothlicgende, the lower division of the 
Permian. 
Verrucaria (ver-ij-ka'ri-S), n. [NL.(Persoon), 
< L. verrucaria, a plant that drives away warts, 
< verruca, a wart.] A genus of angiocarpous 
lichens, typical of the tribe FimVOOHooi '. 
Verrucariacei (ver-ij-ka-ri-a'se-i), n. pi. fNL., 
< Verrucaria + -ace/.] A tribe of angiocar- 
pous lichens, having globular apothecia which 
open only by a pore at the summit, and a 
proper exciple covering a similarly shaped hy- 
meninm, which is in turn included in a more 
or less distinguishable envelop. Also Vcrru- 
oarimi, 
verrucariaceous (ver-ij-ka-ri-a'shius), a. In 
bot., of or pertaining to the genus Vernuxtria 
or the tribe Verrucariacei. 
verrucariine (ver-Q-ka'ri-in), a. [< Verrucaria 
+ -twel.] In hot., resembling the genus Verru- 
caria or the tribe Verrucariacei, ornaving their 
characters. 
verrucarioid (ver-ij-ka'ri-oid), a. [< Verrucaria 
+ -oid.'] In hot., same as vcrrucariine. 
Verrucidae (ve-ro'si-de), n. ]>l. [NL.,< Vrrruea, 
4, + -trfat.] A family of sessile thoracic Cirri- 
nedia, characterized by the absence of a pe- 
duncle and the lack of symmetry of the shell, 
the scuta and terga being deprived of depressor 
muscles, movable on one side only, on the other 
united with the rostrum and carina. Verruca 
is the only genus, with few recent species, but 
others are found fossil down to the Chalk for- 
mation. 
verruciform (ve-ro'si-form), n. [< L. verruca, 
a wart, + forma, form.] Warty; resembling 
a wart in appearance. Also verrucseform. 
verrucose (ver'o-kos), a. [< L. verrucosus: see 
verrucaus."] Same as verrucoux. 
verrucous (ver'ij-kus), a. [= F. verruqueux, < 
L. verrucosux, full of warts, < verruca, a wart : 
see verruca.] Warty; studded with verruciform 
elevations or tubercles. 
verruculose (ve-ro'ku-16s), . [< L. verrucula, 
a little eminence, a little wart (dim. of verruca, 
a wart), + -o*e.] Minutely verrucose ; covered 
with small warts or wart-like elevations. 
verrugas (ve-r6"giis), a. [< Sp. verrugas, pi. of 
n rriiijii, < L. verruca, a wart.] A specific dis- 
ease, often fatal, occurring in Peru; framboo- 
sia. A prominent characteristic is the appear- 
ance of warty growths on the skin. See also 
verrulet, . An obsolete form ot ferrule"*. 
verry (yer'i), a. In her., same as vaire. 
versability (ver-sa-bil'i-ti), . [< versable + 
-ity.] The state or quality of being versable : 
aptness to be turned round. 
Now the use of the Auxiliaries is at once to set the 
soul a-going by herself upon the materials, as they are 
brought her, and, by the versability of this great engine. 
round which they are twisted, to open new tracts of in- 
quiry, and make every idea engender millions. 
Sterne, Tristram Shindy, v. 41. 
versable (ver'sa-bl), a. [< L. versabilit, mov- 
able, changeable, < versarc, turn or whirl about : 
see versimt.'] Capable of being turned. Bloitut, 
1670. 
versablenesa (ver'sa-bl-nes), n. The character 
or state of being versable ; versability. 
versalt (ver'sal), a. [Abbr. of universal. Cf. 
rarsal.'] Universal; whole. 
She looks as pale as any clout in the venal world. 
Shak., R, and J., ii. 4. 21. 
Some, for brevity, 
Have east the venal world's nativity. 
S. Butler, Hudlbras, II. lit. 930. 
6733 
Versant (ver'sant), ii. and n. [< V. rrrxant. < 
I.. fn-*iiii,t-).i. ppr. of ri-wi/-<. turn or whirl 
about: see MTV**, '.) I. n. 1. Familiar; con- 
versant ; versed. 
I, with great pains and difficulty, got the whole book of 
tin I'linticli'h translated Into each of thesi- languages, by 
pii- -t- , stn nn-il the most rvrmnt in the language of each 
nation. /truer. Source of the Nile, L 404. 
The Itifthop of London Is ... thoroughly versant ill 
i ci ]<->, i. tir:,l l:i. 
S'/'t/if't *tuith, Kirat Letter to Archdeacon singleton. 
|( /Meier) 
2. In lirr., carrying the wings erect and open. 
It Is generally twU to be the same as elevated and pur 
want, but seems to refer especially to a display of Hi.- 
under surface of the wings. 
II. n. All that part Of country which slopes 
or inclines in one direction ; the general lie or 
slope of surface ; aspect. 
versatile (vt r'Hit-til), <i. [< F. versatile = Sp. 
n rmitil Pg. f'rrnatil = It. rirx/ilik; < L. ver- 
.inlilix, revolving, movable, versatile, < versare, 
turn : see verse*, v.} 1. Capable of bring 
moved or turned round : as, a rcrsatilc spindle. 
At y Royall Society ' W"> Petty propos'd divers things 
for the improvement of shipping : a versatile keele that 
should be on hinges. Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 20, 1861 . 
Ue had a versatile timber house built in Mr. Hart's gar- 
den (opposite to St. James's parke) to try the experiment. 
He would i u i n.' It to the sun, and sit towards it. 
Aubrey, Llres (James Harrington). 
YrTMtile and sharp-piercing, like a screw. 
W. llarte, Eulogies. 
2. Changeable; variable; unsteady; incon- 
stant. 
Those vermtile representations In the neck of a dove. 
UlanviUc. 
3. Turning with ease from one thing to another; 
readily applying one's self to a new task, or to 
various subjects ; many-sided : as, a versatile 
writer ; a versatile actor. 
An adventurer of versatile parts, sharper, coiner, false 
witness, sham bail, dancing-master, buffoon, poet, come- 
dian. Maeaulay, Hist. Eng., vli. 
Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . . was 
the quick and versatile Montague. 
Maeaiday, Hist. Eng., xx. 
The cerxatile mind, ever ready to turn Its attention in a 
new and unexplored quarter. 
J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 87. 
4. In hot., swinging or turning freely on a sup- 
port : especially noting an anther fixed by the 
middle on the apex of the filament, and swing- 
ing freely to and fro. See cuts under anther 
and lily. 5. In ornith., specifically, reversible: 
noting any toe of a bird which may be turned 
either forward or backward. 
It U advantageous to a bird of prey to be able to spread 
the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize 
the prey like a set of grappling irons ; and accordingly the 
toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one 
in the owls and a few hawks being quite vertatile. 
Couei, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 130. 
6. In entom., moving freely up and down or 
laterally: as, versatile antennw Versatile de- 
mentia, a form of dementia in which the patient is talk- 
ative and restless, often with a tendency to destroy, with- 
out reason, any objects within his reach. Versatile 
head, in entom., a head that can be freely moved in every 
direction. 
versatilely (ver'sa-til-li), atlt: In a versatile 
manner. 
versatileness (ver'sa-til-nes), . The state or 
quality of being versatile ; versatility. 
versatility (ver-sa-til'i-ti), ti. [< F. rersati- 
lite = Sp. versatilidad = Pg. rersatilidade = It. 
rersatilita; as versatile + -ity.~\ 1. The state or 
character of being changeable or fickle ; varia- 
bleness. 
The evils of inconstancy and versatility, ten thousand 
times worse than those of obstinacy and the blindest preju- 
dice. Burke, Rev. in France. 
2. The faculty of easily turning one's mind to 
new tasks or subjects; facility in taking up 
various pursuits or lines of thought or action ; 
versatileness: as, the versatility of genius. 
I do not mean the force alone, 
The grace and venatUity of the man. 
Tennyton, Lancelot and Elaine. 
3. Specifically, in ornith., capability of turning 
either backward or forward, as a toe; the ver- 
satile movement of such a digit. 
versation (ver-sa'shon), n. A turning or wind- 
ing. Blount, 1670. 
Verschoorist (ver'skb'r-ist), n. [< Verschoor 
(see def.) + -isi.] One of a minor sect in the 
Netherlands in the seventeenth century, fol- 
lowers of one Verschoor. They are also called 
Ili'lirtiiylx, because of their application to the 
study of Hebrew. 
vers de soci6t6 (vers de so-se-a-ta'). [F.] 
Same as *</< ty ferae (which see, under society). 
verse 
Verse 1 1 (vers), r. t. [', OF. /).>. K. ivrr = 
Sp. IV. i-ifxnr = It. rrrmin; < L. n i-.-'iif . III.. 
riirmin-, turn, \\ind, twist, or whirl about, turn 
over in tin- mind, u.i'ditate; in middle voirr 
win', move about, dwell, live, be occupied or 
engaged or concerned ; Ireo. of rt-rt, ,-/. tOfttn, 
pp. (</>"-. I'urtiix, tiiin, turn about, overturn, 
change, alter, Iran-form, translate; in middle 
voice, be occupied or engaged, be in a plan 
or condition, = AS. >(//'//. K. irm-lh. be; see 
/rr//il.] To turn; revolve, as in meditation. 
Who, vening In his mind tbls tlioiiulit, can keep his 
. I,. . k dry'/ /tec. T. Adanu, Works, I. :t44. 
Verse- (vers), H. [< MK. ft /.<, partly, and in lin- 
early form/<?r wnolly, < AS. iim, partly < <iK. 
(and F.) vers = Sp. Pg. It. MTW - I > < ' Sw. Dan. 
vers, < L. versus (pi. n rxiw >, also rnr.iu.i, a furrow, 
aline, row, in particular a Ii if writing, and in 
poetry a verse, lit. a turning, turn (hence a turn 
at the end of a furrow, etc.), < vertrre, pp. nr- 
sus, turn: see verse*. Hence verse" 2 , r.. n / 
versify, etc.] 1. In ]>ros.: (a) A succession of 
feet (colon or period) written or printed in one 
line ; a line : as, a poem of three hundred verses ; 
hence, a type of metrical composition, as rep- 
resented by a metrical line; a meter. Averse 
may be catalectic, dimeter, trimeter, iambic, 
dactylic, rimed, un rimed, alliterative, etc. 
He made of ryme ten vert or twelve. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, L 16.1. 
They . . . thought thcmselucs no small fooles, when 
they could make their verses goe all in ryme as did the 
schooles of Salerne. futtenham, Arte of Eng. Poesle. p. 9. 
It does not follow that, because a man is bunged for 
his faith, he is able to write good vertet. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 206. 
(6) A typo of metrical composition, represented 
by a group of lines ; a kind of stanza: as, Spen- 
cerian verse; hence, a stanza : as, the first verse 
of a (rimed) hymn. 
Now, good Cesarlo, but that piece of song . . . 
Come, but one verse. Shale., T. N., II. 4. 7. 
A young lady proceeded to entertain the company with 
a ballad In four WTW*. Dictent, Oliver Twist, xxvL 
A stanza often called a verse in the common speech of 
the present day may l>e a group of two, three, or any 
number of linea. S. Lanier, Scl. of Eng. Verse, p. S. 
(r) A specimen of metrical composition; apiece 
of poetry; a poem. [Rare.] 
This terse be thine, my friend. Pope, Epistle to Jervas. 
(d) Metrical composition in general ; versifica- 
tion ; hence, poetical composition ; poetry, es- 
pecially as involving metrical form: opposed 
to irrose. 
To write, to th' honour of my Maker dread, 
Verte that a Vlrgine without blush may read. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 2. 
Who says In verse what others say In prose. 
Pope, Imlt. of Horace, II. I. 202. 
Poets, like painters, their machinery claim, 
And verxe bestows the varnish and the frame. 
0. W. Holmet, Poetry. 
2. (n) A succession of words written in one 
line; hence, a sentence, or part of a sentence, 
written, or fitted to be written, as one line; 
a stich or stichos. It was a custom in ancient times 
to write prosaic as well as metrical books in lines of 
average length. {See colometry, stichometry.) This cus- 
tom was continued especially in writing the poetical books 
of the Bible, which, though not metrical in form, are 
composed in balanced clauses, and In liturgical forms 
taken from or similar to these. Hence (6) In li- 
turgies, a sentence, or part of a sentence, usu- 
ally from the Scriptures, especially from the 
Book of Psalms, said alternately by an officiant 
or leader and the choir or people : specifically, 
the sentence, clause, or phrase said by the offi- 
ciant or leader, as distinguished from the re- 
sponse of the choir or congregation ; a versicle. 
In the hour-offices a verse is especially a sentence follow- 
ing the rcsponsory after a lesson. In the gradual the 
second sentence Is called a perse, and also that following 
the alleluia. Also versus. ( C ) In church music, a 
passage or movement for a single voice or for 
soloists, as contrasted with chorus; also, a so- 
loist who sings such a passage, (rf) A short 
division of a chapter in any book of Scripture, 
usually forming one sentence, or part of a long 
sentence or period. The present division of rerses In 
the Old Testament is Inherited, with modifications, from 
the masorettc division of verses (pesuqim), and has been 
used in Latin and other versions since 162*. The present 
division of verses In the New Testament was made by 
Robert Stephanus, on a horseback journey from Paris to 
Lyons, in an edition published in l.V'i. In English ver- 
sions the verses were first marked in the Geneva Bible 
of 1580. (e) A similar division in any book. 
Adonic. Alcaic, Alcmanian verse. See the adjectives. 
Blank verse, unrlmed verse: particularly, that form 
of unritnrd heroic verse which is commonly employed In 
English dramatic and epic poetry. It was introduced by 
