I. ˈvərs noun
Etymology: Middle English vers, fers, from Anglo-French vers & Old English fers, both from Latin versus, literally, turning, from vertere to turn — more at worth
Date: before 12th century
1. : a line of metrical writing
2.
a.
(1) : metrical language
(2) : metrical writing distinguished from poetry especially by its lower level of intensity
(3) : poetry 2
b. : poem
c. : a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
3. : stanza
4. : one of the short divisions into which a chapter of the Bible is traditionally divided
II. verb
( versed ; vers·ing )
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
: to make verse : versify
transitive verb
1. : to tell or celebrate in verse
2. : to turn into verse
III. transitive verb
( versed ; vers·ing )
Etymology: back-formation from versed, from Latin versatus, past participle of versari to be active, be occupied (in), passive of versare to turn
Date: 1599
: to familiarize by close association, study, or experience
well versed in the theater