View source for versipellis

{{Lewis
|lshtext=<b>versĭpellis</b>: (vorsĭp-), e, adj. vertopellis, [[that]] changes its [[skin]]; [[hence]], in gen.,<br /><b>I</b> [[that]] changes its [[shape]] or form, [[that]] alters its [[appearance]], [[that]] transforms [[himself]] or itself.<br /><b>I</b> Lit.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> 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]]).—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> 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.—<br /><b>II</b> 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.
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