▪ I. versed, a.
(vɜːst)
[f. mod.L. vers-us (sc. sinus), pa. pple. of L. vertĕre to turn.]
1. versed sine. a. Trig. Originally, the segment of the diameter intercepted between the foot of the sine and the extremity of the arc; in mod. use, the ratio of this line to the radius, or (equivalently, as a function of an angle) the quantity obtained by subtracting the cosine from unity.
In mod. use also in the contracted form versin.
| 1596 W. B[urrough] Variation of Compasse B 5 b, The versed signe of the semidiurnall arke. a 1652 S. Foster Descr. Ruler, A large Scale of Versed-Sines. 1690 Leybourn Curs. Math. 397 The Line VS..is the Line of Versed Sines. 1732 Hadley in Phil. Trans. XXXVII. 353 Draw b D the Sine, and b r the Sine complement of the Arch B b: BD is the versed Sine of the same. 1763 Emerson Meth. Increments 91 Hence we have the following series of versed sines. 1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 319 The arcs being similar, the versed sines are proportional to the arcs or to their radii. 1853 Sir H. Douglas Milit. Bridges (ed. 3) 43 A segment of a sphere whose radius is r, the sagitta, or versed sine, being d. |
b. Bridge-building. The rise of an arch.
| 1838 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. I. 127/1 The Dover road is carried over the railway by a flat segmental arch, 30 feet span, the rise or versed sine [printed line] is only two feet. 1839 Ibid. II. 191/2 Span of the arch..58 feet—the rise or versed sine being ten feet. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 384/1 It forms the strongest arch;..but in consequence of the height of the versed sine..it becomes necessary..to limit the span. |
† 2. versed scale, a scale of versed sines. Obs.
| a 1652 S. Foster Descr. Ruler viii. 31 The Versed Scale is in length four times the same Radius. Ibid. 32 Let the Tangents..be measured out of the Versed Scale. |
▪ II. versed, ppl. a.1
(vɜːst)
Also 7 verst.
[ad. L. versātus, pa. pple. of versārī to occupy oneself, be busied or engaged (in something). So F. versé, It. versato, Sp. and Pg. versado.]
1. Of persons: Experienced, practised, or skilled in a subject, matter, art, etc.; conversant with, having an intimate knowledge of, something; expert, skilful; = versant a. 2 a.
Very frequent from c 1630 in this and sense 1 b.
| 1622 Bacon Hen. VII, 16 [The bishops of Ely and Exeter] had beene both versed in his Affaires, before hee came to the Crowne. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 24 A Clarke of the works must be verst in the prises of Materials. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 34 Levant Merchants, and others that were verst in the Affairs of Turkey. 1712 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 361 Neither of us being vers'd in Latin. 1769 Junius Lett. xii. (1788) 80, I am not versed in the politics of the north. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall xviii, The servants are all versed in the common modes of trying luck. 1843 Mill Logic i. i. §1 A mind not previously versed in the meaning and right use of the various kinds of words. 1880 L. Stephen Pope vi. 137 Curll was..versed in every dirty trick of the Grub-street trade. |
b. With defining or limiting adverbs, esp. well (better, best) versed.
| (a) a 1610 Healey Theophrastus To Rdr. (1616) I 3 b, Such as are well verst in Antiquitie. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 160 A Physician..must be better versed in his Art before he can do any thing. 1655 Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 176 He is certainly best versed in all his Majesty's present affairs. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 108 ¶3 He is extreamly well versed in all the little Handicrafts of an idle Man. 1791 Burke App. Whigs Wks. 1808 VI. 18 Men [sc. Jews] well versed in swearing. 1825 Cobbett Rur. Rides 279 He was very well versed in his prayer-book. 1841 Borrow Zincali II. xi. iii. 56 Reverend gentlemen..much better versed in the points of a horse than in points of theology. 1874 Burnand My time xxix. 277 Our tutor was sufficiently well versed in his subjects. |
| (b) 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. A iv, A man no less versed in the art of well-speaking then himself. 1641 Vind. Smectymnuus x. 107 He that is but meanly versed in Cyprian. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. iv. §10 Those who profess themselves most versed in their own Antiquities. a 1721 Prior Ess. Learning ¶3 Other parts of general Learning in which they may not be so perfectly versed. 1747 tr. Astruc's Fevers 106 He was ill-versed in anatomy, botany and chemistry. 1780 J. Pickering in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) IV. 356, I wish I was sufficiently versed in politics [etc.]. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 190, I am not much versed in Egyptian hieroglyphics. 1836 H. Coleridge North. Worthies Introd. (1852) p. xxiv, Men long versed in public affairs. 1888 Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men I. iii. 346 He..delivered his opinion..like one thoroughly versed in the law of farms. |
c. Without const. rare.
| 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. xviii. iii. (1841) II. 214/1 A general..prudent, able, versed by long experience. 1888 Pall Mall G. 23 Feb. 6/1 Observing that Lord Randolph Churchill used to keep the Premier and Foreign Secretary combined in order, which at present there was no one in the Cabinet versed enough or bold enough to do. |
† 2. Employed or exercised about something; = versant a. 1. Obs.—1
| 1654 Vilvain Theol. Treat. ii. 80 Hope is properly versed about some good to be attained by industry. |
▪ III. versed, ppl. a.2
(vɜːst)
[f. verse v.1]
Composed or written in verse; turned into verse.
| 1890 Athenæum 27 Dec. 896/2 Monsieur Pouf, the versed biography of a dog. 1901 Dublin Rev. Apr. 413 Versed commonplaces set to florid music. |