different between flighty vs protean

English

Etymology

From flight +? -y. Compare Dutch vluchtig (“volatile; fleeting; cursory”), German flüchtig (“volatile; fleeting; momentary; quick”), Danish flygtig (“elusive; evasive”), Swedish flyktig.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fla?ti/

Adjective

flighty (comparative flightier, superlative flightiest)

1. Given to unplanned and silly ideas or actions.
2. (of a bird) That flies easily or often.
   • 2013, Diego Gil, Henrik Brumm, Avian Urban Ecology

     "We know that flighty birds suffer from greater risk of raptor predation, and I assume that it is useful to understand the effects of urbanization because flighty species may be more vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance."

3. (obsolete) Swift.

Translations

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