| 释义 |
versatility|vɜːsəˈtɪlɪtɪ|
[a. F. versatilité (= It. versatilità, Sp. versatilidad, Pg. -idade), or directly f. prec. + -ity.]
1. The condition or quality in persons, their conduct, etc., of being changeable, fickle, or inconstant; tendency or liability to vary in opinion or action; variableness, inconstancy.
1755Johnson, Versatility, the quality of being versatile. 1782V. Knox Ess. xii. (1819) I. 71 This versatility and duplicity of the grande monde. 1783W. Thomson Watson's Philip III, v. 324 To his holiness, whom they suspected of a versatility of character, which might soon lead him to relapse:..they answered [etc.]. 1814D'Israeli Quar. Auth. (1867) 346 We are apt to condemn their versatility of principles as arising from dishonest motives. 1849Macaulay Hist. Engl. ii. I. 213 Ashley's versatility was the effect, not of levity, but of deliberate selfishness. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. vii. ii. III. 168 He might indeed dread the versatility of Henry's character, and his ready assent to the advice of flattering..counsellors.
2. The faculty or character of turning or being able to turn readily to a new subject or occupation, esp. of an intellectual nature; facility in taking up varied pursuits or tasks with some success or distinction; many-sidedness.
1798Bisset Life Burke 210 Wedderburne [was] eminent for acuteness, versatility, and ingenuity. 1827Scott Surg. Dau. x, His intelligence, his learning, above all, his versatility and freedom from prejudices of every kind. 1874Green Short Hist. vi. §6 (1876) 325 It was with Italian versatility that he turned from the camp to the counting house. 1882J. Sully in Mind No. 27. 366 In the scientific treatment of the subject..we shall make versatility synonymous with width of faculty, or diversity of capability in all its measures.
b. Const. of (wit, character, etc.).
a1773Chesterfield Charac. Pitt (1777) 46 He..had such a versatility of wit, that he would adopt it to all sorts of conversation. a1842Arnold Hist. Rome II. 495 Cineas..was in the versatility and range of his talents worthy of the best ages of Greece. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. ii. 70 Not often indeed do the Oriental nations present us with an example of versatility of character. 1866Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. I. xii. 231 [Aristophanes] reminds us..still oftener of the splendid versatility of poetical genius..displayed by Goethe.
c. pl. Features or traits of versatile intellect.
1841D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1859) II. 123 A voluminous commentary expounded the morality of the ravishing versatilities of Ariosto.
3. Diversity of nature or character; variety of application, etc.
1802Playfair Illustr. Hutton. The. 339 The Huttonian system cannot boast of theories of equal versatility. 1822–7Good Study Med. (1829) II. 419 The symptoms, that principally mark the progress of this disease in all their versatility;..it is this versatility that has produced the chief differences of opinion, entertained concerning it. 1871Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue 458 The Book of Proverbs abounds in examples of the versatility of the Hebrew and. 1879Church Spenser 35 The inexhaustible versatility of the English tongue.
4. Capability of turning about as on a pivot.
1884Coues Key N. Amer. Birds 126 We have no case of true versatility of the hind toe among North American birds. |