Proteus

[proh-tee-uh s, -tyoos] /ˈproʊ ti əs, -tyus/
noun
1.
Classical Mythology. a sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys, noted for his ability to assume different forms and to prophesy.
2.
a person or thing that readily changes appearance, character, principles, etc.
3.
plural protei [proh-tee-ahy] /ˈproʊ tiˌaɪ/ (Show IPA). (lowercase) Bacteriology. any of several rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria of the genus Proteus, sometimes found as pathogens in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of humans.
British Dictionary definitions for Proteus

Proteus

/ˈprəʊtɪəs/
noun
1.
(Greek myth) a prophetic sea god capable of changing his shape at will
Word Origin and History for Proteus

c.1400, from Greek Proteus (see Protean).

Proteus in Medicine

Proteus Pro·te·us (prō'tē-əs)
n.
A genus of gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that includes certain species associated with human enteritis and urinary tract infections.

Proteus in Culture
Proteus [(proh-tee-uhs, proh-tyoohs)]

In classical mythology, a god who served Poseidon. Proteus could change his shape at will.

Note: Someone or something that easily takes on several different forms may be called “protean.”
Proteus in Technology


An extensible language, the core of PARSEC.
["The Design of a Minimal Expandable Computer Language", J.R. Bell, PhD Thesis, CS, Stanford University (Dec 1968)].