adjective

versĭpellis

neut. versĭpelle

(), vertopellis, that changes its skin; hence, in gen.

that changes its shape; form; that alters its appearance

that changes its shape or form, that alters its appearance, that transforms himself or itself.

literal

eccum Juppiter In Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem ... Ita versipellem se… in general •

In gen.: eccum Juppiter In Amphitruonis vertit sese imaginem ... Ita versipellem se facit, quando lubet, Plaut. Am. prol. 123: capillus fit, i. e. turns gray, id. Pers. 2, 2, 48 (v. s. v. versicapillus).—

one who can change himself into a wolf; a man-wolf; were-wolf as a noun

In partic., subst.: ver-sĭpellis, is, m., acc. to the superstitious belief of the ancients, one who can change himself into a wolf, a man-wolf, were-wolf, Plin. 8, 22, 34, § 80; Petr. 62 fin.; App. M. 2, p. 124, 21.—

skilled in dissimulation; sly; cunning figuratively •

Trop., skilled in dissimulation, sly, cunning, crafty, subtle (anteand post-class.): vorsipellem esse hominem convenit, pectus cui sapit: bonus sit bonis, malus sit malis, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 12 Ritschl: quicum versipellis fio, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 38, 7: hortamen, Prud. Cath. 9, 91. —Comp., Porc. Latro ap. Cat. 9.

Perseus ID: n50628 Key: versipellis