different between erratic vs protean

English

Alternative forms

• erratick, erraticke, erratique (all obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin erraticus; compare Old French erratique.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???æt?k/
• Rhymes: -æt?k

Adjective

erratic (comparative more erratic, superlative most erratic)

1. unsteady, random; prone to unexpected changes; not consistent

   Henry has been getting erratic scores on his tests: 40% last week, but 98% this week.

2. Deviating from normal opinions or actions; eccentric; odd.

   erratic conduct

Antonyms

• consistent

Derived terms

• erratical
• erratically
• erraticness

Translations

Noun

erratic (plural erratics)

1. (geology) A rock moved from one location to another, usually by a glacier.
   • 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA 2003, p. 372:

     The term for a displaced boulder is an erratic, but in the nineteenth century the expression seemed to apply more often to the theories than to the rocks.

2. Anything that has erratic characteristics.

Synonyms

• (glaciers): dropstone

Translations

Anagrams

• Cartier, cartier, cirrate, rice rat

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ??????? (Pr?teús, literally “first”), the Greek warden of sea beasts, renowned for his ability to change shape.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p???.t?.?n/, /p????ti?.?n/
• (US) enPR: pr?'ti-?n, pr?-t?'?n, IPA^(key): /?p?o?.t?.?n/, /p?o??ti?.?n/
• ,

Adjective

protean (comparative more protean, superlative most protean)

1. Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms.

   Synonyms: multiform, polymorphic, polymorphous, shapeshifting; see also Thesaurus:multiform

   • 1987, William A. Henry III, Time Magazine Volume 129

     He loved to show off his protean talent.
2. Alternative letter-case form of Protean (of or relating to Proteus).

Translations

See also

• Protea

References

Further reading

• Proteus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Paterno, operant, pronate, tropane