transversea.[L. transversus, p. p. of transvertere to turn on direct across; trans across + vertere to turn: cf. F. transverse. See Verse, and cf. Traverse.] Lying or being across, or in a crosswise direction; athwart; -- often opposed to longitudinal.()Transverse axis (of an ellipse or hyperbola) (Geom.), that axis which passes through the foci. -- Transverse partition (Bot.), a partition, as of a pericarp, at right angles with the valves, as in the siliques of mustard.()n.1. Anything that is transverse or athwart.()2. (Geom.) The longer, or transverse, axis of an ellipse.()v. t. To overturn; to change.(C. Leslie.)v. t.[Pref. trans- + verse, n. Cf.Transpose.] To change from prose into verse, or from verse into prose.(Duke of Buckingham.)