Pronounced: guh-MYN-shaft, noun
Notes: I don’t think I’ve ever run across this word
Yesterday’s word
The word protean means
- of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
- displaying great diversity or variety; versatile
First usage
Our word came into English in the late 1500s
Background / Comments
Our word came from Greek mythology (when I was in school I read a lot of Greek and Roman mythology, but I don’t remember this guy): Proteus was the shepherd of Poseidon’s sea creatures – he had the gift of prophecy, but he didn’t care to share his knowledge. When people came to talk with Proteus, he would change his shape. Supposedly, to get an answer from him, one would have to sneak up on him and take hold of him — and keep holding on while Proteus changed from shape to shape. Eventually, he would give up and then answer the question. Our word came to mean anyone or anything that is changeable or adaptable as the mythological Proteus.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 