versūtus (vors-), a, um, adj. [a lengthened form of versus, from verto; cf. astutus init.].
I In a good sense, adroit , dexterous , versatile; shrewd , clever , ingenious (class.; syn. callidus): homo versutus et callidus (versutos eos appello, quorum celeriter mens versatur), Cic. N. D. 3, 10, 25: quod (genus acuminis) erat in reprehendendis verbis versutum et sollers, id. Brut. 67, 236: animus acutus atque versutus, id. de Or. 2, 20, 84: versutissimum et patientissimum Lacedaemonium Lysandrum accepimus, id. Off. 1, 30, 109: adulescens docte vorsutus fuit, Plaut. Stich. 4, 1, 55.—
II In a bad sense, cunning , crafty , wily , sly , deceitful (freq. and class.; syn. vafer): vorsutior es quam rota figularis, Plaut. Ep. 3, 2, 35: non esse servus pejor hoc quisquam potest, Nec magis versutus, id. As. 1, 1, 106; cf. id. Ps. 4, 8, 6: hoc est hominis versuti, obscuri, astuti, fallacis, malitiosi, callidi, veteratoris, vafri, Cic. de Or. 3, 13, 57; cf. id. ib. 2, 3, 10: acutus, versutus, veterator, id. Fin. 2, 16, 53; 2, 17, 54: Corinna, Ov. Am. 2, 19, 9: propago, id. M. 11, 312 al.— Sup. , Vell. 2, 118, 1.—With gen.: versutus ingenii, Plin. 7, 12, 10, § 56.—Adv.: ver-sūtē , cunningly , craftily , slyly , Cic. Or. 7, 22; id. Brut. 9, 35.— Sup. , Aug Trin. 15, 20.