versipellis
ἔστιν δέ που ἡ μὲν ἐπὶ σώμασι γυμναστική, ἡ δ' ἐπὶ ψυχῇ μουσική → I think I am right in saying that we have physical exercise for the body and the arts for the soul
Latin > English
versipellis versipellis N M :: shape-changer, who can metamorphose to different shape; double-dealer (Vulgate)
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
versĭpellis: (vorsĭp-), e, adj. vertopellis, that changes its skin; hence, in gen.,
I that changes its shape or form, that alters its appearance, that transforms himself or itself.
I Lit.
A 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).—
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.—
II 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.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
versĭpellis¹⁴ (vors-), e (verto et pellis), qui change de forme, qui se métamorphose : Pl. Amph. 123 || loup-garou : Plin. 8, 81 ; Petr. 62, 13 ; Apul. M. 2, 22 || [fig.] qui prend toutes les formes, souple, rusé, un protée : Pl. Bacch. 658 || versipellior Decl. Catil. 9.
Latin > German (Georges)
versipellis (vorsipellis), e (verto u. pellis), das Fell wechselnd = (vgl. unser »Wechselbalg«) seine Gestalt verändernd, sich umgestaltend, I) eig.: a) v. Tieren, versipellis, χαμαιλέων, Gloss. II, 207, 6. – b) v. Menschen, versipellem se facit, von Jupiter, der sich in den Amphitruo verwandelt, Plaut. Amphitr. prol. 123: bes. von dem, der sich nach dem Aberglauben des gemeinen Volkes in einen Wolf verwandeln konnte, der Werwolf, Plin. 8, 81. Petron. 62, 13: deterrimae versipelles, Apul. met. 2, 22. – II) übtr., in allen Farben spielend = arglistig, verschmitzt, verschlagen, schlau, Circe, Arnob. 4, 14: adversarius, Augustin. serm. 109, 4: testis, Vulg. prov. 14, 25: quīcum versipellis fio, Lucil. 670: vorsipellem frugi convenit esse hominem, Plaut. Bacch. 658. – v. Abstr., astutia, Augustin. epist. 194, 16: hortamen, Prud. cath. 9, 92: versipellibus esse scriptas (fabulas) modis, Arnob . 5, 35. – / Compar. versipellius, Porc. Latro decl. contra Catil. 9.
