Verto

#etymology Published: 2021-12-16

In English, we often see words that contain a part “ver”. Even if you don’t have any interest in etymology, you may have a certain impression of this part.

In Latin, “vertō” means “I turn”. I picked words that can be easily explained in the sense of “turn” or something similar.

(I tried to separate them into some categories, but please understand them any way you like.)

turn

• divert: turn
• avert: turn away
• averse: turn against
• divorce: turn against each other
• traverse: turn across
• introvert: turn inwardly
• converse (usually /kənˈvərs/): talk by turning to each other
• vertebra: hinge of the turning body

change

• verse: changing the way to express something
• convert

overturn

• controversy: kind of overturning
• subvert: overturn

opposite direction

• invert
• reverse
• perverse
• converse (usually /ˈkɑnˌvərs/)

different directions (kinds)

• diverse
• versatile
• version