▪ I. versant, n.
(ˈvɜːsənt)
[a. F. versant (15th c. in Littré), f. verser: see verse v.2]
1. The slope, side, or descent of a mountain or mountain-chain; the area or region covered by this. (Usu. with specifying epithet.)
| 1851 Catal. Gt. Exhib. iv. 1341/2 The species of oak which produces the cork vegetates..over the versants or faces of the Pyrenees. 1883 Encycl. Amer. I. 477/2 The best part of the United States for bee-farming is considered to be the Pacific versant. 1901 Q. Rev. July 18 The conifer forests..which clothe the eastern versant of the Victoria Nyanza. |
2. Tendency to slope or descend; declination.
| 1859 R. F. Burton Centr. Afr. in Jrnl. Geog. Soc. XXIX. 30 Thus the oriental half of the African continent has a compound versant, eastward with southing, and westward with southing. |
▪ II. versant, a.
(ˈvɜːsənt)
[f. L. versant-, versans, pres. pple. of L. versāre, versārī: see verse v.2 Cf. conversant a.]
1. Concerned, anxious, or busy about, occupied or engaged in or with, something.
| 1645 Arraignm. of Persecution 15 [His] nature hath ever been and is always versant in such cruelties. 1681 J. Flavel Method of Grace xxv. 432 His fears were once versant about noxious creatures, now God is the object of the fear of reverence. 1682 Boyle Cont. New Exp. Phys.-Mech. ii. Pref., The other [matter] was [for me] to be versant about those trials, which were not to be made..with natural air..but factitious air. 1861 Temple Bar Mag. III. 409 The literary question of the age was versant almost exclusively with verbal accuracy. |
2. Of persons: a. Skilled, versed, or experienced in a subject, practice, etc., as the result of having been occupied with it.
In frequent use from c 1790 to c 1860. Now rare.
| 1766 W. Gordon Gen. Counting-ho. 3 It may be known..by any person versant in accounts, what sums are due. 1777 Boswell in Johnson 18 Sept., That is owing to his being so much versant in old English poetry. 1789 Phil. Trans. LXXIX. 107 Who is perfectly versant in the method of breeding the insect. 1805 T. Harral Scenes of Life II. 113 This gentleman..was completely versant in the grammatical niceties..of the language. 1842 Syd. Smith Wks. (1850) 669 These excellent directors, versant in wood and metal. 1870 Burton Hist. Scot. lxxii. (1873) VI. 312 Persons versant in the history of Scotland. |
b. Conversant, familiar, or intimately acquainted with a subject or person.
| 1787 J. Howie in Reformation Princ. Re-exhib., etc. 151 The Author,..being mostly versant with country-people, labours to speak and write in the vulgar dialect. 1822 Syd. Smith Wks. (1850) 351 A man not versant with courts of justice will not believe it. 1836 Fraser's Mag. XIII. 289 Mr. Puff..had become versant with all the private affairs of all the boroughs. 1877 ‘H. A. Page’ De Quincey II. xvi. 30 A shepherd..who was versant with all the approaching changes of the weather. |
3. Conch. Turning or curling over.
| 1839 Penny Cycl. XIV. 321/1 Family Columellidæ... Shell without a canal, but having the base of its aperture notched or versant, and the whorls of the spire large. |
4. Her. (See quot.) rare—0.
| c 1828 Berry Encycl. Her. I. Gloss., Versant, the same as reclivant, called also sursuant; and implies erected, or elevated. |