protean

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protean

extremely variable; changeable in shape or form, as an amoeba; a versatile actor

Not to be confused with:

protein – plants or animal compounds rich in amino acids required for growth and repair of animal tissue

pro·te·an

(prō′tē-ən, prō-tē′-)

adj.

1. Readily taking on varied shapes, forms, or meanings.

2. Exhibiting considerable variety or diversity: "He loved to show off his protean talent" (William A. Henry III).

[From Proteus.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

protean

(prəʊˈtiːən; ˈprəʊtɪən)

adj

readily taking on various shapes or forms; variable

[C16: from Proteus]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pro•te•an

(ˈproʊ ti ən, proʊˈti-)

adj.

1. readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable.

2. changeable in shape or form, as an ameba.

3. (of an actor) versatile.

4. (cap.) of, pertaining to, or suggestive of Proteus.

[1590–1600]

pro′te•an•ism, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.

protean - taking on different forms; "eyes...of that baffling protean grey which is never twice the same"

variable - liable to or capable of change; "rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable"; "variable winds"; "variable expenses"

protean

adjective changeable, variable, volatile, versatile, temperamental, ever-changing, mercurial, many-sided, mutable, polymorphous, multiform the protean and complex nature of his work

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

protean

adjective

Having many aspects, uses, or abilities:

all-around, all-round, many-sided, multifaceted, various, versatile.

Translations

protéovský

protéiforme

zmienny

protean

[ˈprəʊtɪən] ADJ → proteico

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

protean

adj (liter) → proteisch (liter)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pro·te·an

n. protéico, que se manifiesta en distintas formas.

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References in classic literature ?

But it must not be forgotten that John Barleycorn is protean. As well as to weakness and exhaustion, does he appeal to too much strength, to superabundant vitality, to the ennui of idleness.

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Love apart, Malicorne was happy; but this love, which he could not help feeling, he had the strength to conceal with care; persuaded that at the lest relaxing of the ties by which he had bound his Protean female, the demon would overthrow him and laugh at him.

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For untold ages, oppressed by protean fear, I am aware of wandering, endlessly wandering, through a dank and soggy wilderness, where poisonous snakes struck at us, and animals roared around us, and the mud quaked under us and sucked at our heels.

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But father insisted on pursuing his favorite phantom, and a protean phantom it was, judging from the jobs he worked at.