protean (adj) – readily changing shape or form; highly variable or mutable; versatile and adaptable [ proh-tee-uhn]
BREAKDOWN: The word protean derives from the name Proteus, the early Greek sea god renowned for his ability to change shape, and original "Old Man of the Sea" according to Homer. The name Proteus comes from the root PROTO- meaning first in words like prototype and protozoa.
**EASILY CONFUSED**
protein (noun) – any of numerous large, complex naturally-produced molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids
“Normal is enormously susceptible to swinging with the gusts of politics and history. Disguised as scientific and fixed, it is subjective and protean. That is why I used the word normative above, a term derived from statistics, simply meaning what most people do.” —Adam Levine
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]