late 14c., "compose verse, write poetry, make verses," from Old French versifier "turn into verse" (13c.), from Latin versificare "compose verse; put into verse," from versus "verse" (see verse) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Transitive sense of "put into verse" in English is from 1735. Related: Versified; versifying; versifier (mid-14c.).